Company Culture
Make time
for yourself
Alden Arnold, project manager at
the Association of Event Venues, on
his experience completing the mental
health first aider course
O
“By doing this,
we are able
to empower
colleagues, who
may have a long-
term mental
health issue or
disability, to
thrive at work”
ur Cross-Association Event Industry HR
group has a long-term objective to address
mental health awareness, and wellbeing of its
people within the industry.
As a result, the group built a relationship with
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England —and
after a session introducing mental health first
aid to the group, 16 members attended MHFA’s
Champion training whilst the group vice chair,
the director of finance hr & admin for the Event
Industry Alliance and I all attended the two-day
first aider course.
Why did I want to go on the course?
I believe I am able to manage my own reactions
to the realities of mental health and be able to
provide comfort for those experiencing times of
trouble. My own life has been filled with the ups
and downs most have probably experienced at
some point (bullying, anxiety, stress and loss) and
I have found ways to cope with the stresses and
trauma life can bring.
More importantly, I care. I care about my own
mental health but also that of the colleagues
family I work with day after day – beyond
recognising the importance of mental well-being
in the workplace, I genuinely have regard for
the people I see more often than even my own
family, and I know what it is like to go through
some challenges that others may face. However, I
wanted to gain a structural method of training to
be able to provide the correct first aid to whoever
may require it.
What was my experience of the course?
Two days of on point, structured training;
delivered extremely slickly with brilliant pastoral
care. The topics covered for some could be close
to home and the course leader always had that in
mind and would check to see if we were all okay.
In other words, it was expertly led.
The supporting and inclusive atmosphere
made everyone welcome. By the end of day two
we all had shared a unique learning experience.
Collectively, through personal experiences,
presentations, group discussions and workshop
activities, we gained practical skills to spot the
triggers and signs of mental health issues; we
enhanced our own interpersonal skills, and given
the confidence to step in, reassure and support a
person in distress.
The course manual provided and action plan
taught is a great source of continual reference. I
consider it an honour to have been nominated to
attend the training on behalf of my colleagues.
The result
By doing this, we are able to encourage colleagues
to access support when needed and empower
colleagues, who may have a long-term mental
health issue or disability, to thrive at work. We can
stop preventable health issues arising by building
supportive, open cultures around mental health
and embed a positive long-term change across our
organisations.
We all now know that we work for an
organisation that has a culture for care which
gives us all a head start.
July — 41