Mental health First Aider

Rachael Walsh qualified as a Mental Health First Aider in June 2021. She worked in an Employee Relations role for several years and has experienced a number of scenarios where individuals have encountered Mental Health illnesses. She wanted to equip herself to be competent in helping others around her.

A study conducted by HSE found, one in four people in the UK will have a mental health problem at some point. While mental health problems are common, most are mild, tend to be short term and are normally successfully treated, with medication, by a GP.

Mental health is about how we think, feel, and behave. Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health problems. They are often a reaction to a difficult life event, such as bereavement, but can also be caused by work-related issues. There is still a stigma attached to Mental Health and we encourage any person who is suffering in any capacity to talk openly about it. There are a wide range of support services available to everyone, all of which are confidential services.

Rachael has made changes to her own work/life balance in the past year or so, including incorporating new habits such as mindfulness and yoga, and finding more separation between the work life and personal life. She have reaped the benefits, feeling healthier and less stressed, and wants to share this with others.

Below is a list of links and contact details for Organisations that you can contact for advice:

Anxiety UK – www.anxietyuk.org.uk
Bipolar UK – www.bipolaruk.org
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – www.thecalmzone.net
Mental Health Foundation – www.mentalhealth.org.uk
No Panic – www.nopanic.org.uk
Papyrus (Prevention of Young Suicide helpline) – www.papyrus-uk.org - 0800 068 4141. Phone lines open 9am until midnight every day of the year.
Samaritans – www.samaritans.org
Release the Pressure – www.kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/health/release-the-pressure