Mitie offers staff mental health first aid training courses

Strategic outsourcing firm Mitie is offering free mental health first aid training courses to its 57,000 staff.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) provides the courses to public and private sector organisations to support them in dealing with staff that experience mental health problems. The course provides comfort and promotes recovery for sufferers, as well as helping to raise awareness of mental health issues in the community.

Jane James, MHFA instructor at Mitie, said: “With one in three adults experiencing mental health issues it makes sense to recognise these issues and focus on how we can help to support staff in dealing with them.

“Since running the programme we have had staff at all levels disclosing issues that they have had to deal with. With the support of MHFA training we have been able to support them and avoid the negative impact on business.”

Bernice Cole, business manager for the MHFA, added: “We are delighted and proud to be working with Mitie to enable them to ensure the wellbeing of their staff is taken seriously, helping fulfil their corporate social responsibility.

“We hope their example will be followed by others, ensuring that mental health literacy is raised and the stigma around it dispelled through the continued training and education of staff. We expect that this will in turn benefit them in terms of higher staff satisfaction and increased productivity.”

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