Our ‘Meet the MHFA’ series, aims to help you get to know the dozens of trained Mental Health First Aiders we have within #TeamGateshead – serving to grow their profiles, create more friendly faces and provide you with more support networks when you’re in need.

The latest colleague to discuss their experience of Mental Health First Aider training is Jade Betts, QEF Control Supervisor in the Security & Facilities and who completed the training course in March 2023.

From comfort zone to comfortable

Jade begins by sharing her favourite part of the training – one which might usually send shivers down the spine of some!

“I really thought that getting us to each have a role play was good, it brought us out of our comfort zone. It then put us in other peoples shoes and made us open our minds. It made it real to which the situation is very much a reality.

“The course was great, the way it facilitates the group opening up and interacting was superb. The teams were mixed around which made us all feel comfortable with each other and it really didn’t feel like a 2-day course but rather a friendly group discussion.”

“Within Security we come face-to-face on a daily basis with those who require a little extra support. Not knowing the correct way to help, I sought out a course that could help me understand and support each individual the best I could.

Expanding on the impact of the course, Jade continues: “The first thing I done once completing the course was approach my manager and highly-recommend that all of the Security team take part in this course. It’s a course that would benefit everyone.

“The information you learn could be vital one day. It was an excellent course and special thanks to our trainer, Sam – you done a great job!”

Register your interest in Mental Health First Aider training:

Throughout 2023 we will be continuing to offer regular Mental Health First Aider courses. To express your interest and be added to a waiting list of colleagues who are looking to complete the two-day training session, complete our registration form. Alternatively, to learn more about the role itself, visit our First Aiders page or download the role description.

Finding a Mental Health First Aider:

A full list of our Mental Health First Aiders can be found on our Find A Mental Health First Aider page, providing you with contact details for all qualified MHFAs who can act as a point of contact for any employee who is experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress.

As #MeetTheMHFA unfolds, we’ll be updating the page to link back to these items – providing you with the chance to get to know a First Aider more prior to making contact, as well as looking at how we reformat the page to more clearly identify which MHFAs are from which business unit.