WORKPLACE CAMPAIGN
New courses give staff chance to become mental health first aiders
WORKERS LOOKING to become mental health first aiders are invited to attend a course in Leeds next week.
The courses are being organised by campaigner and lawyer Jodie Hill who is seeking to ensure the law is changed to make having mental health first aiders in the workplace compulsory.
Poor mental health costs the UK between £73bn and £97bn each year and Ms Hill has set up a Change.org petition which calls for it to become mandatory for staff to have access to mental health first aiders in the workplace.
Around 15 out of every 100 people at work have a mental health condition, according to Government estimates.
Each year around 300,000 people with a long-term mental
We thought a good start would be to put on our own course.
Jodie Hill, campaigner and founder of Thrive Law
health condition lose their job, which is much higher than the rate for people with a physical health condition.
Mental health first aiders are designed to be an initial point of contact for anyone encountering problems and to spot early signs of issues with co-workers.
They will then refer these individuals to the correct place for assistance, treatment and counselling.
Ms Hill said: “We thought a good start would be to put on our own course.
“It is just a two-day course and you learn about all the different mental health conditions. It is not just about anxiety and depression.”
The course is taking place on January 14 and 15 at the offices of Thrive Law in Leeds. Message pa@thrivelaw.co.uk for more details or to book your place.