What is a Mental Health First Aider?

The role of a Mental Health First Aider in the workplace is to be a point of contact for any employee who is experiencing a mental health issue, or emotional distress.

It’s important to note that Mental Health First Aiders are not therapists or psychiatrists, but they can offer support through non-judgmental listening and guidance. First Aiders may also be able to provide signposting advice – though it’s also worth noting that most if not all such resources should be findable via this website.

Mental Health First Aiders will listen to you without judgement, and with compassion. They will help you to find the next step in accessing help, and will support you to take that step – they understand that this can often be difficult.

As well as the role description above, you can also click the button below to learn more about all three tiers of our mental health first aid training, and how MHFA’s fit into this.

Counselling

All colleagues can also access professional avenues of free and confidential counselling support and talking therapies – including our internal counselling service within the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Team, accessible for support with work-related issues. To find out more about this service, visit our Counsellling page.

Colleagues who would be more comfortable in accessing this kind of support confidentially from external partners can also access support through the Gateshead Talking Therapies or one of the dozens of alternate providers of more targeted and specialist support listed on our Counselling page.