Congratulations to our three newest Mental Health First Aiders, Michael White, Paul Colder and Chloe Yorke.
All three have successfully completed the St John’s Ambulance Level 3 Award in Mental Health: Workplace First Aider. They join a group of six other PTI employees as company contacts who can offer assistance to their colleagues.
“I wanted to understand more about mental health and to be able to offer some positive help and support to my colleagues if needed. I was surprised how prevalent it really is, affecting about one in every four people a year,” said Michael.
“There’s loads of resources out there to help so I feel I’m now able to offer anyone a shortcut to finding the best ones for them. The course has already been a really good conversation starter because it’s really important to be able to talk about mental health in the same way as we talk about healthy eating or exercise,” he added.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Another employee, Paul Colder says that mental health issues can strike at any time and the after-effects of the stress that many people went through during the pandemic can have lasting effects. He says people shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help if they are feeling low or more anxious than normal.
“We’ve all been through a difficult few years. The pandemic took its toll on many people and the memories and feelings are not just going to disappear overnight and that’s on top of the normal everyday life challenges we all face.
Talk to someone you trust
“Fear and a sense of hopelessness are powerful emotions and sometimes things can be overwhelming. I’ve had depression in the past so I definitely understand what it’s like. The key thing is to talk to someone you can trust, perhaps it’s a family member, a friend, a work colleague or seek help from your GP. It’s good to watch out and check in with your family, friends and work colleagues if you notice any small changes in their behaviour or routine.
“I take care of my mental health and I know the triggers. So if I feel low, I’ll talk to my wife or a friend, I make some me time and usually put my headphones on and go to the gym which really works for me to give my mood and energy levels a lift,” he said.