“I have had a lot of experience in talking about mental health with family or friends, but I wanted to learn more. I decided to take the MHFA training so that I can be better equipped to support anyone. I’m also an international member of staff and have gone through culture shock myself. I’m available to talk if you need it.”

“Mental health is as important as physical health to me. It is part of our overall wellbeing and I strongly believe in removing the stigma surrounding mental health. Listening non-judgementally is important to me. We all deserve to have our experiences heard.”

“I took the opportunity to become a Mental Health First Aider to help those who are experiencing mental health issues. By supporting others, we can further become one community.”

“I’m a First Aider at work and I’ve become increasingly aware of the need to support colleagues with their mental health too. The current pandemic has had a massive impact on mental health, making this support even more important for everyone.”

“Talking is one of the best starting points in helping people feel better. I want to be part of a community that encourages and welcomes discussions about mental health. We all need to look after each other.”

“Mental Health is such an important thing to be aware of, and we all forget that sometimes. It’s good to talk!”

“Mental Health is something very close to my heart. Being able to understand and listen, non-judgementally, and help people so they have somewhere to turn and someone to talk to in a safe environment is incredibly important to me.”

Happiness grows and sadness fades when shared. As a good listener, I am committed to supporting my colleagues because I firmly believe that mental health should always come first. 

“I took the opportunity to become a mental health First Aider as it is a subject very close to my heart. I believe it is really important to take time to listen and create a safe environment where people feel comfortable to talk.”

“I believe that spotting the signs of mental health issues early is key to preventing them from escalating.

I want to be able to support staff as soon as possible and help give them the tools and resources to be able to manage their condition.”

“It is so important for people to have a safe and open environment to talk about mental health.

Everyone should be encouraged to talk freely about their mental health and be able to reach out for support.”

“I hate the idea of anyone suffering or struggling in isolation and to be in a position to offer a safe non judgemental space for people to be able to express themselves freely and receive support, can only be a good thing. “

“It’s important that we, as an organisation, have a support network for our colleagues who might not wish to speak with a Line Manager or a member of the PPC team.   

I hope I can be of some support to someone at a time when they need a friendly face and a non-judgemental ear.“

“It’s so important that everyone knows that there is someone they can call on at work if they need to talk. I’m grateful to have done this training so I can be available to colleagues in this way.”

“I have had past experience of dealing with poor mental health with friends and family. I have always taken a keen interest and tried to ensure that any help I provide is the right help for that individual.”

“There are many different situations and circumstance that can impact our mental health and overall wellbeing and it’s important that we know there is someone we can reach out to.”

“From first-hand experience, I understand and appreciate how important it is to have someone to talk with when life is difficult and who will listen without judgement, and I want to be part of the solution in removing the stigma around discussing poor mental health.“

“Talking is one of the best first steps in supporting someone who may be struggling. It’s so important for everyone to have access to a safe and supportive environment where they will be listened to, without judgement.”

“I chose to become a Mental Health First Aider to help raise awareness of mental illnesses and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Recognizing the limited number of male first aiders, I felt a strong responsibility to step up and fill this gap, hoping to offer comfort, understanding and a safe environment to those who might feel more at ease speaking with a male first aider.“

“It is important to raise awareness that everyone has mental health, just like they have physical health, which needs to be looked after. There is nothing too big nor too small to reach out to talk to someone about.”

“Giving people your time, listening effectively and accepting individual differences and diversity that’s what mental health means to me. We are all here to support each other in times of need.”

“Mental health can affect physical health and vice versa, so both aspects of our health are equally important, and a more holistic approach is needed to help the person as a whole. Talking about mental health is so important and is often the first step in the recovery process”

“I feel very strongly about removing the stigma attached to mental health and encouraging people to speak out about the problems they are facing.

Everybody has the right to feel heard and supported.”

“I was interested in becoming a mental health first aider as I believe that we all need to look out for each other and it is important for people to have reassurances that there is a community of people from all backgrounds to reach out to for support. ”