We tend to think only of the extremes of mental health, but low-level anxiety disorders and depression affect us all at some point in our lives. With the NHS committed to equal parity between physical and mental health, it is important that our NHS organisations lead by example. For this reason, we have partnered with Blue Mental Health Education and Training, a North-East company specialising in mental health awareness and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The team at Blue have been working in local schools and businesses to educate people about common mental health difficulties and how to respond to them, both in terms of how we deal with our own feelings, and how we help those around us who may be experiencing them. One of the team is Rebecca Meagher, a cognitive behavioural psychotherapist who offered the following insight into the issue:
“As a society, we are steadily increasing our understanding of the need to nurture our emotional wellbeing but are often unsure as to how best to support or where to turn to seek guidance.
Rebecca Meagher, cognitive behavioural psychotherapist
Our workplace is where we spent much of our time and so this community can often be best placed to not only spot but have the knowledge and confidence to know how to support people experiencing periods of mental ill health. Our training not only focuses upon how to help when signs are recognised but places significant emphasis upon creating a whole organisation culture which embeds normalisation and acceptance of these common experiences and works toward eliminating stigma surrounding mental health. An essential building block is the ability to have open, authentic conversations about mental health in the workplace, both individually and on a strategic level. This is more important than ever as we recover from the impact of the pandemic.”
As a first step in our collaboration, NTH Solutions invited some of the team from Blue, including Rebecca, to come and spend a day with some of our management team to provide Mental Health Responder Training to them. The group looked at the vicious cycles of thoughts and feelings that contribute to poor mental health and how CBT techniques help to reduce those cycles. They thought about spotting signs of anxiety and depression in others then learned practical tips to help equip them to handle those situations. There was a lot of time for discussion and introspection which the group found very therapeutic but there were also moments of great fun; one of the exercises taught was breathing technique, which involved getting volunteers to hyperventilate in order to try out the technique. Obviously, there was a serious purpose behind the activity but that didn’t stop the team from having a giggle!
Following the session, Rebecca said, “NTH Solutions are one of the organisations who place this at the forefront of their priorities and committed to training their Management and Leadership Team with a view to modelling such knowledge and skill within their workforce. The group fully engaged in the programme and generated a great deal of food for thought concerning ongoing strategies to support each member of their staff community.”
The benefit of such a relevant, engaging session was felt by everyone who attended. One of those was Charlie Rumins, our Operations Admin Lead. Charlie was keen to deliver her verdict on this first training session:
“Looking after mine and others mental health is something which is really close to my heart so when I was offered the chance to attend the session I was delighted. The day was fun and interactive without taking anything away from the serious message. The session equipped us with simple techniques which, when put into practice, can make a huge difference. Even small things like focusing on your breathing for example can help to alleviate panic or tension in times of increased stress.
Charlie Rumins, NTH Solutions Operations Admin Lead
Working for an organisation where it is clear that staff wellbeing and support for mental health is a priority is really empowering! Unfortunately, the stigma around mental health is still prevalent in society as whole but by talking with others, attending this type of training and spreading the message with our wider teams within the organisation, we can take a positive step towards breaking down the barriers.”
Charlie’s sentiment has been echoed by everyone who attended the session, and we are excited to be able to collaborate with such an effective, accessible, empowering organisation as Blue Mental Health Training & Education. Look out for further events in the coming months as we lend our support to Blue’s team in a bid to amplify their message and spread it to as many people as possible. It has never been a better time to bring mental health to the forefront of the national conversation and bring true parity of care to our patients, our staff, and the communities they share.
