As everyone working in ecology consultancy knows, summer is an especially busy time when working in the UK. We are aware how stressful this can be at times, which is why we place such high importance on providing support for everyone across the business. One of the ways in which we do this at RSK Biocensus is by supporting the training of Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA), who are available to support our teams throughout the year.
Even though we are so busy, we made space last week for two of the Central Services Team, Georgia Marchington and Jordyn McCann, to attend a two-day Mental Health First Aider training course, alongside Consultant Ecologist Michael Hogg (who specialises in invertebrates and botany), bringing the total number of MHFAs in the business to fourteen. The training was provided via RSK Group and given by the wonderful Simon Osbourne of Cheshire First Aid.
On returning from the course, Georgia said:
“I can’t recommend the MHFA course and Simon from Cheshire First Aid enough and would encourage everyone to consider attending a MHFA course at some point in their life. It equips you with the signs to look out for and confidence to ask questions, actively listen or know where to begin to provide support.”
Jordyn added her praise, stating:
“I had the amazing opportunity of attending the MHFA training with Simon, and I could not recommend it more. Simon was excellent at discussing sensitive topics in a respectful way allowing for open discussions which broadened our knowledge of how to handle situations and provide resources to those who are going through difficult situations with their mental health. As an advocate of mental health awareness and support, I could not recommend this course more to anyone that has the opportunity to do it.”
Michael’s feedback says it all:
“The MHFA course was excellent, I would recommend it very strongly to anyone interested in the topic, or indeed to anyone who manages staff in general. It was informative, but also thought-provoking, and has led to considerable reflection on my part, enabling me to identify areas for personal growth as well as topics within the mental health sector to explore more deeply. The training/trainer (Simon) was highly engaging, and we could easily have spent several more days exploring the topic and the great depths of his knowledge. I have gained in terms of learning, understanding, and an enormous list of helpful resources relating to MHFA and the wider MH sector. From an RSK Biocensus perspective, this was money very well spent, and I will be able to use my learning to support colleagues in my team as well as RSK colleagues who are part of the RSK Neurodivergence Network.“
Our thanks to all of our Mental Health First Aiders, both new and those already established, for their invaluable contribution to making RSK Biocensus such a healthy working environment.