Volunteers train in Mental Health First Aid

A dozen volunteers have stepped-up to make a difference in creating a supportive workplace at Balfours. The team of volunteers enlisted on the St John’s Ambulance certified Mental Health First Aider – MHFA – two-day training course.

Balfours, Amy Meldrum-Beechey explains: “This is potentially a very important role, our training and ultimately support will not only enable us to recognise early signs of mental health issues, but also how to offer a confidential, safe, non-judgmental space to talk.”

“At Balfours, like many office environments, colleagues are much more than just colleagues, we spend many hours in each other’s company. This familiarity can often be the channel through which a member of our team can share a problem with someone they trust; additionally, a place where a colleague can recognise that someone is suffering emotional distress.”

Amy adds that the Balfours volunteers are not therapists, but they are a listening ear, a source of reassurance, encouraging self-help, or signposting to professional support when appropriate.

“We want to promote a culture of openness around mental wellbeing. Our offices now have posters with contact details of our MHFAs, so that staff will be able to contact any of the MHFA’s regardless of office location,” Amy adds.