Firms urged to hire mental health first-aiders to ensure workers are better supported

EVERY workplace needs a qualified first-aider  but who looks after workers’ mental wellbeing?

Monday is World Mental Health Day and companies are being urged to train “mental health first-aiders” who can spot symptoms early and ensure staff get the support they need.

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There are just 1,000 qualified mental health first aid instructors training UK staff. Many work in high-stress environments such as the emergency services.

But with ONE IN FOUR Brits suffering from a mental health issue more employers are recognising the importance of providing support in the workplace

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Poppy Jaman, head of Mental Health First Aid England, says: “We all have mental health, just as we have physical health, which is why it is important to train people in mental health first aid.

“As a mental health first aid instructor, you will train people in essential skills — how to recognise symptoms, provide initial help and guide a person towards the right professional support.

“It offers the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, in a range of settings, including corporate workplaces, schools, universities, even the Armed Forces community.

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“You will help to reduce the stigma associated with mental ill-health and enable people to better look after their own wellbeing.”

Mental health problems are said to cost UK employers £26billion a year. Big firms could find it cost-effective to hire a full-time mental health first-aider.

To join the 100,000 people already trained in mental health first aid, see .

'LEARN TRIGGERS BEFORE IT ARISES'

NICOLE PICKETT is a freelance mental health first aid (MHFA) instructor. The 48-year-old from Croydon, South London, spent ten years in the police but retrained in 2008. She says:

I believe MHFA training should be compulsory in every sector. Mental health should be valued just as much as physical health.

When it gets cold outside we rush out and stock up on vitamin C but when it comes to mental health people need to learn about the possible triggers and techniques to recognise and help an issue if it arises.

MHFA training enhances your emotional intelligence, as well as your communication and listening skills.

An instructor definitely needs a wealth of knowledge in regards to mental health and has to be prepared to frequently brush up their skills.

Good facilitation and listening skills and strong empathetic qualities are also essential.

You’ll need to undertake the MHFA instructor training course, which takes seven days of training and is accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health.

There is also a probation period wherein trainers are quality assured.

I have been with MHFA England since 2009 and have seen first-hand how attitudes to 7 mental health are changing.

Act quickly if staff mess up

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SAM ALLARDYCE lost his job as England manager for what the FA described as his “inappropriate” conduct.

But he isn’t the first employee to bring shame on his employer.

So what should you do if a staff member shows up your company?

Kate Palmer from Peninsula Employment Law said: “Employers should be prepared to take action. Otherwise employees may believe they can simply get away with it.

“Investigate as the first step. You need to be sure the employee has done what they are alleged to have done.

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"Gaining hard evidence is important – this can be as simple as taking screenshots of comments posted online or taking witness statements.

“Get evidence of how your business, brand and reputation has been affected. Then decide whether you need to take disciplinary action.”

The ultimate sanction is a dismissal but Kate warns: “It has to be fair, regardless of the fact the damage is due to the employee’s own behaviour.

“They still have the ability to bring an employment tribunal claim for unfair dismissal.”

Steak your claim

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TRENDY steak and lobster chain Bourgee Restaurants is expanding and seeking staff for its new Essex restaurant.

Roles available in the Chelmsford branch include kitchen porters, waiters and chefs.

The luxe brand, which has its flagship restaurant in Southend-on-Sea, is also opening branches in Norwich and Bury St Edmonds.

Director James Welling said: “There is a real buzz around the brand and this is an exciting time for employees to join and be a part of this growth phase.

"This is your chance to join a company with huge ambitions, right at the start.”

You can apply today online at .

Flexible wallets

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EVERY parent is supposed to have the right to ask for flexi working but those earning more are most likely to get it.

A study from charity Working Families found that high-earning parents who bank more than £70,000 a year are 47 per cent more likely to work flexibly than those earning between £10,000 and £40,000.

Sarah Jackson, chief executive of Working Families, said: “Families need time as well as money to thrive. But one shouldn’t depend on the other.

“We know that flexible working makes business sense across the salary spectrum, so why should only the people who earn the most reap the rewards?”

Find out more on your rights to flexible working at .

Fairer execs

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STEP forward, ladies. The Festival of Female Entrepreneurs, held in Bristol later this month, is on the lookout for up-and-coming business talent to be crowned the Female Start-Up of the Year.

The annual competition sees winners land mentorship from top business experts and a fabulous, custom-built new website.

Entrants must have a business, set up by a woman, that is less than three years old and employs fewer than ten staff.

You need to be quick, as entries close at 5pm tomorrow.

Find out more, including additional entry criteria – and just what the judges are looking for – at .

It's all one big meeting

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WORKERS are not being allowed to get on with their jobs – with just 38 per cent of the working day free from meetings and emails, a new study reports.

The findings, from cloud computing firm Workfront, revealed 62 per cent of staff had too many meetings to perform their job properly and more than half were plagued with excessive emails.

A quarter of workers would even back having daily blocks of time where they could not be interrupted, allowing them to finish their work.

Workfront’s head of marketing, Joe Staples, said: “Meetings and emails are a necessary part of today’s workplace. But they are often misused – decreasing rather than increasing productivity.”

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Your journey to successful travel career

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