Mental Health Awareness Week is a time for us all to think about mental health, tackle stigma, and explore how we can create a society that prevents mental health problems from developing but also to protect our and others mental well-being. At Kindred we initiated a mental health training program, MHFA. The training teaches the participants to recognise and support a colleague who may be experiencing mental health problems. A mental health first aider can help by listening, reassuring, or recommending an employee to seek professional help. Over the years, Kindred has provided this training to 70 employees worldwide.
This years theme during the Mental Health Week is Anxiety, which is a normal emotion for most but sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem. There are different triggers that can lead to feelings of anxiety, including exam pressures, relationships, starting a new job (or losing one) or other big life events. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems we can face. A quarter of adults said they felt so anxious that it stopped them from doing the things they want to do some or all of the time. Six in ten adults feel this way, at least some of the time. On a positive note, anxiety can be made easier to manage.
Looking back on how the training has benefitted Lucian, Vicente and Marc, they all agree that they now have more knowledge about the subject, better listeners. Vicente even says that ooccasionally a few of his colleagues get a bit confused when he asks them “yeah, but how are you?” and he really means it. “For the record: I really do mean it!”. He continues “It is easy to forget these things when we are busy with deadlines, meetings, expectations, and personal lives. The only sign can be a glitch in the communication with a colleague and it can mean that things are not ok. And sometimes all it takes to make things a bit better, is to take the time to ask if everything is okay”. Lucian adds that he thinks it is important for the employer to acknowledge the importance of mental health and raise awareness amongst their people. Especially through the last two to three years where we all sensed a collective pressure on our mental health (burnout, anxiety, depression) due to the Covid-19 period. “It is clear to me that it is adamant to have Mental Health at the fore front of employee engagement.”
Marc acknowledges the importance of active listening. Giving the colleague the feeling that you are there for him/her and trying to motivate the person to seek for help, mostly via EAP, are important in his approach. “I have handled cases from the employee not feeling well emotionally due to something that happened in his/her private life to quite serious mental health issues. In all the cases it felt good that the person was comfortable to open to me.”
“At Kindred we wouldn’t be the company we are if no one cared.” Vicente urges his colleagues to speak up if they are struggling, to go and talk to one of the volunteers. “The more you think you shouldn’t, the more necessary it is. The mental health first aider is here to walk with you. There is no need to struggle in silence.’
