Mental Health First Aiders
The role of the University of Lincoln Mental Health First Aiders is to be a point of contact and support for any member of staff experiencing a mental ill health issue or emotional distress, in exactly the same way as you would contact a First Aider if you were to have an accident or injury at work.
The role of the Mental Health First Aiders is to recognise mental ill health and help people find the support they need to stay well. They strive to achieve the University of Lincoln’s ambitions of creating an inclusive culture, whereby attitudes and behaviours to mental ill health are not stigmatised, and staff feel able to talk about their mental health without fear of repercussion or judgement. To ultimately create an environment where everyone has the skills to look after their own and others’ wellbeing.
Mental Health First Aiders can
- Understand the important factors affecting mental ill health
- Identify the signs and symptoms for a range of mental health conditions
- Listen non-judgementally and hold supportive conversations
- Signpost you to professional help and ongoing support
Mental Health First Aiders cannot
- Diagnose mental health conditions
- Provide therapy or counselling
- Provide an ongoing support service
- Provide an emergency or out of hours service
Meet the Mental Health First Aiders
Hover over the images to read why the individual chose to undertake the training and become a Mental Health First Aider.
“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.”
Becki Commins
“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.”
Blaine Monaghan
Having lived through my own experiences, I understand the impact that compassionate guidance and understanding can have on someone struggling with their mental well-being. By offering a listening ear, non-judgmental support, and practical assistance, I aim to create a safe space where individuals feel listened to and able to seek help. My journey has taught me that everyone deserves to be heard and supported, and as a Mental Health First Aider, I am committed to being that support for those in need.
Charlotte Baxter
“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.”
Cheryl Cliffe
“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.”
Claire Butler
“I feel I have the personal experiences and good social skills that could help someone to get them on the right path by signposting them to seek the right treatment and support to help them to deal with their mental health issues.”
David Raines
“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.”
Emily Dowle
“It important to raise awareness of mental health and to highlight that is just as important to take care of this as it is our physical health. I want to help erase the stigma that is attached to discussing mental health and offer a safe place for people to talk.”
Georgina Morgan
“I chose to become a mental health first aider to be able to support colleagues, friends and family who may be experiencing mental health issues and seek out the right professional help. Becoming a MHFA has meant I am able to help others.”
Hannah Phillips
“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.”
Helen Arnold
“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.”
Helen Rice
“Understanding the way in which different aspects of ourselves can influence our mental health is important across many areas of my life.”
Kyla Pennington
“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.”
Liza Smith
“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.”
Liz Mallet
“This is a subject very close to my heart and I firmly believe that your mental health is just as important as your physical health. I am excited to be a part in this positive shift in culture, removing stigmas and getting people talking openly.”
Paula Atkins
“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.”
Rebecca Mills
“The reason I want to be a MHFA is because mental health is just as important as physical health and I want to be able to support people in every way possible. I also want to be a face that BAME members of staff can feel comfortable talking to about mental health.”
Rhianne Sterling-Morris
“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.”
Rosanna Mills
“I believe mental health is as important as physical health, therefore, as we care for our bodies, I believe in caring for the mind.
We all have mental health and it should be discussed as openly as we discuss other aspects of health.”
Rosie Damarell
“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.”
Sam Greasley
“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.”
Stacey Leonard
“I wanted to be a Mental Health First Aider because I believe Mental Health should be given the same level of attention as Physical Health. It is very important to understand Mental Health, and know how to talk about it, to help support staff in a safe environment.”
Tanya Martyn
How to contact a Mental Health First Aider
- Please select a member of the team above and email them in the first instance requesting a MHFA support meeting.
- If you receive an out of office message you can select an alternative member of staff or wait for them to return, dependent on how quickly you wish to talk to someone.
- In our current working circumstances, on receiving the email the First Aider will arrange a Teams Meeting or phone call with you, based on your preference and each individuals’ availability.
- In the meeting they will talk to you about how you are feeling and listen empathetically and without judgement.
- They will give support and information and encourage you to get appropriate professional help if needed or encourage other supports.
Please be assured that your conversation is confidential and will only be shared with the relevant Professional Support with your authority
In an Emergency or Out of Hours
- Samaritans – For everyone. Call 116 123 / email jo@samaritans.org
- Call your GP and ask for an emergency appointment
- Call 111 out of hours – they will help you find the support you need
- Contact your mental health crisis team – LPFT Telephone: 0800 001 4331 (open 24/7). The helpline is for people 18+ years old.
- Childline – for children and young people under 19. Call 0800 1111 – the number will not show up on your phone bill.
- Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – for men. Call 0800 58 58 58 (5pm to midnight every day). Visit the webchat page.
- Papyrus – for people under 35. Call 0800 068 41 41 (Monday to Friday 9am to 10pm, weekends and bank holidays 2pm to 10pm) / text 07860 039967 / email pat@papyrus-uk.org.
- If you have seriously harmed yourself – for example, by taking a drug overdose – call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E. Or ask someone else to call 999 or take you to A&E.
- University of Lincoln Employee Assistance Programme
- If not alone talk to a member of your family or friend.