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    As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, we’ve been focusing in on this year’s theme of #MomentsForMovement.

    Over the week, we’ve been hearing from a selection of our Mental Health First Aiders, who have been telling us what the five sub-themes, move, discover, bond, motivate and connect mean to them by highlighting their own experiences and how they influence their mental wellbeing.

    Today we move on to our final topic; connect. In slightly different approach we’ll also hear why our Mental Health First Aiders became Mental Health First Aiders – hopefully providing you with more reasons to connect with one of our fantastic Mental Health First Aiders for a listening ear, support and signposting as and whenever you need it.

    Why connection is important:

    Summarising the importance of feeling connected is relatively straightforward. Our Chaplain Joan Urwin summarises things well, explaining: “Technology is great, but there’s nothing better than being with other people and sharing experiences as you’re on common ground.”

    Being on that common ground provides valuable opportunities to give and recieve support. This is highlighted by Senior Programme Lead (Clinical), Lisa English who shares: “Feeling connected helps us to support each other and know others feel the same.” That is also echoed by District Nurse Beverley Hope, who expands: “It’s good to know that I’m not the only one, and can have a positive impact on others.”

    As noted by Senior Biomedical Scientist (Microbiology), Gillian Nichol, “Feeling connected improves self-esteem”, thoughts backed up by Biomedical Scientist, Michelle Cummings who feels that: “Feeling connected makes me feel likeable, positive, approachable and part of a community.”

    Why connect with a Mental Health First Aider:

    Reasons our Mental Health First Aiders have completed the training and are open to supporting their #TeamGateshead colleagues vary – as can seen by our #MeetTheMHFA series.

    Here, we look at why a trio of who have took part this week completed the training – hopefully providing opportunities for you to relate to and connect with some of our First Aiders and build their profiles within the organisation.

    Emily Ramshaw - Day 1

    Emily Ramshaw: "If my friend or family member was going through the same thing, I'd want someone to be there for them"

    For some, personal experiences drove a hunger to support others. Undergraduate Programme Support Assistant, Emily Ramshaw, captures this perfectly, explaining: “I’ve struggled with my own mental health in the past, and it has always been in silence. But if my friend or a family member was going through the same thing, I’d want someone to be there for them to speak to. That’s why I became a Mental Health FIrst Aider – we are all somebodies loved one and we should all have someone to talk to in all areas of our life, including work.

    “I think this role has helped me to be aware of the struggles others might be facing, even if they don’t specifically say. It’s given me more compassion, and I hope that by being a friendly ear, I can make someone feel a little bit better. Sometimes just a chat, being heard and gaining a different perspective is all we need. I’m not a qualified therapist by any means but I’m passionate about people and supporting others.

    “I hope that as a Mental Health First Aider, people can find my name easily and reach out if they need to.”

    Michelle Cummings - Day 3 - Social

    Michelle Cummings: "I often see people struggling with stress, and I feel I can help them to calm, prioritise and take a breath."

    Another whose Mental Health First Aider journey has been influenced by personal experiences is Biomedical Scientist, Michelle Cummings, who shares: “I struggled a lot while going through my divorce. It was like a death to me. and it totally reshaped me from who I thought I was to who I am today.

    “During that time I got a lot of support from my work colleagues and family. But the main thin that got me through it was my counsellor, Hannah. She taught me how to better regulate my emotions and to stop letting them take over. She gave me loads of tools to put in my toolbox, and they still help me today.

    “I feel like I’m now in the best place mentally that I ever have been. The experience has taught me to look at things in a positive way rather than a negative way, and I feel so much calmer and happier for it.

    “When the opportunity to become a Mental Health First Aider came up, I thought I could gain more insight from the course and to grow more myself. But I also knew it was an opportunity to give back and help support as many people as possible.

    “I often see people struggling with stress levels, and I feel I can help them to calm, prioritise and take a breath, because many don’t realise they might be spiralling. I love helping and I really do feel giving back is important.

    Joan Urwin - Day 4 -Motivation

    Joan Urwin: "We all experience mental health issues at some point in our lives"

    Offering support to colleagues and patients alike is very much part of the day job for Trust Chaplain, Joan Urwin, who explains: “We all experience Mental Health issues at some point in our lives, myself included.

    “I became a Mental Health First Aider as my role as a Chaplain involves helping patients, family/carers and very importantly staff.

    “Since the pandemic, supporting staff has become a larger part of my role, who I am lucky enough to have good professional relationships with.

    “I feel privileged if I can be a listening ear, point them in the right direction or simply be there for them.”

    Join us!

    We would like to once again extend our thanks to Mental Health First Aiders Anya Dyson, Michelle Cummings, Beverley Hope, Gillian Nichol, Joan Urwin, Lisa English and Emily Ramshaw for their kind participation in our celebration of Mental Health Awareness Week 2024. Our thanks also goes on record to our entire Mental Health First Aider base, as well as OD Practitioner Sam Corcoran, who kindly leads MHFA training here at Gateshead.

    Speaking of training, we’re always looking for more Mental Health First Aiders and to that end, we have organised a number of training dates, new sessions targeted at line managers and refresher training sessions for those who’ve completed training previously throughout the remainder of 2024.

    To find out more about the role of MHFAs, just read our recently published news item on them here. If you’d like to play your part in helping us build a more supportive workplace, then check out dates, times and locations of these sessions and sign-up for your preferred dates using our dedicated registration form now!

    Register for Mental Health Training Opportunities!