Mental health first aiders at work - overrated

[Portapotty]

The company should be out sourcing and using professionals? AIBU?

We have them at work, and there is no way that I would talk to my colleagues about my mental health. Even with assumed confidentiality, the potential loss of respect would be painful

Our company has the first aiders and professionals to whom they outsource. I think the point of a first aider in any sense is to be there first in a crisis to assess and make a decision about what needs to be done.

I'm first aid trained, I don't have a medical degree or licence, most first aiders don't. If someone on my premises lops their finger off or has a seizure or whatever I know what to do to tide them over until a professional can step in. I see mental health first aid in much the same way.

I'm not convinced it is a valid role.

it would need a lot of training. I have suffered with A&D and panic attacks for years. I keep quiet at work but if anyone is having a panic attack, I usually sit with them - but not since this became a thing. Happily I don't often have to go in to an office (since 2016).

I think it's just a way for companies to tick a box.

Yep! Agree 💯 (and I am one!)

Yes, that's why I never tell people.

Probably you are BU. if you look at the MHFA stuff it's about training people to notice when something might be wrong, listen and direct the person to appropriate informal or formal help and support. In other words, 'First Aid'. Colleagues are able to spot signs and do this quicker than any outsourced professional and it's good. The main thing is for people not to think they can start dishing out advice or recommending treatment/making a diagnosis, which people who haven't been trained often try to do. Just look at the number of diagnoses we get on this forum. Very often just listening and accepting how the person feels is all that's needed, but it stops run of the mill things from escalating into more serious problems. Why not do the training yourself? It's very useful at work or in life generally.

Not after a regular first aider couldn’t recommend I went home after fainting, being out for 5 mins and coming too with belly pain at 30 weeks pregnant and therefore my work disciplined me for leaving to get medical attention. Cannot imagine something less visual like mental health would get better first aid. But I bet the company could then absolve itself if the employee had to take long term sick or worse.

In our work they are there for someone to get in touch with if they need signposting to what is available rather than anything that could be construed as advice etc. Ironically, the people who have volunteered are generally those who you wouldn't want to approach or share information with so not sure how often or how useful the provision is.

It’s not supposed to replace professional medical advice, which any self-respecting company should also provide; it’s just about being there in the moment and understanding what is going on for that person. I don’t see it as a bad thing as long as you have mental health care available to employees as well.

The lady at work who is ours honestly has good intentions but people won't go to her as she is the last person you would ever want to open up to.

You don't have to tell them about your mH. First aid comes directly after an incident - we've had a couple at my work with users kicking off. It's usually making someone a cup of tea, listening if they want to talk, or just sitting if not, and then working out next steps - do you need to talk this through with a counselor, do you need the rest of the day off, can I ring someone to come and get you.

Also i suggested maybe calling it mental wellbeing instead of health as a lot of us have quite complex medial mental health issues but obviously anyone can be going through a rough patch.

Aren't they just supposed to signpost people to where they can get the right help?

I was carer for my ex with severe mental health issues for 20 years. I’ve had various bouts of depression, anxiety, work related stress. I’ve managed teams where people have had mental health to Elma or even been effected by family members with mental health issues.
those team members did open up to me as their boss, mainly because I was open about my own issues and they knew about ex’s issues

but hell would burn over before I volunteered to be a mental health first aider or any mental health support function. Unfortunately supporting/ signposting / etc people dealing with mental health issues whether their own or a family member is draining, difficult, stressful and NOT a job for someone who is not either a CPN, approved therapist, or a close friend/family member . Companies and people offering training to set this up are well meaning but completely deluded and naive.

There are always empathetic employees who will notice someone struggling or upset. Especially in ladies loo where someone is tearful. If itnis
work related then these people
can do why they’ve always done in terms of making a few suggestions, but mostly is providing a tissue, some water and a comforting hug and sometimes advice to go home .

nope. Just nope.

My last company had them (I was one) and I don't think a single one was ever approached for help. And yes you do just signpost people.

I think it is useful training for managers though so they can spot any signs of issues in their direct reports and know how or if to approach them about it. But the training attracted the admin and lower bands, not the managers.

yes it should be mandatory for managers managing people….

The people that rushed to be trained as mental health first aiders are, in my experience, the very people that should never be allowed to advise anyone on their mental health. Let alone know about who is and isn't having mental health distress.

Absolute waste of time, space, money.

Would never ever speak to them. And all they do is pass you off to helplines anyway.
Money would be much better spent on access to proper support, reducing burn out and training for line managers.

Have you misunderstood their role? They are there to provide potential life saving measures until a professional can take over. Same as physical health but for mental health

YABU. They are first aiders only, so are there to spot a problem and do the bare minimum to prevent further harm, until a properly trained counsellor or psychiatric nurse etc can take over.

They aren't there to provide counselling.

I thought very similar but recently when dealing with a prolonged period of stress at work I contacted one of ours and it was actually very useful. I’d never seek out someone in my own work area but working in a large organisation I was able to find someone I didn’t actually know or work with. Gave me lots of coping mechanisms and other sources to help.

We had 3, they were supposed to do things like prompting awareness of mental health issues, come to team meetings so we could put a face to the name, make us aware of the services on offer etc.... however, we were constantly told they didnt have time to do this.... one person left. Now we cant recruit to replace her as the department is too busy! Go figure, its a pure tick box exercise!

YANBU. I know of someone who is one and she’s the last person I’d go to with a mental health problem, even if I did just want “signposting”. On top of her notable indiscretion, the FB-style “U Ok hun”and Insta-Inspo-bullshit would probably tip me over the edge.

@sunstreaming

Why not do the training yourself? It's very useful at work or in life generally.

It will depend on the training.
I did it and learned nothing.

It started with us saying who our support was as a child. I said no one, the trainer didn't pick up on that.

A couple of us asked in a school setting how we balance safeguarding and confidentiality. The trainer said I get asked that a lot and gave no answer.

I'm a mental health first aider. The idea is that I'm on hand, in the moment. I can then refer elsewhere, give information/ contact details, offer advice, check back later on...

For some that's better than having to find time to call their GP, hope the receptionist will allow a telephone appointment, wait for a call back (can't be in work hours as we're not allowed our phones on us) or take time off for a face to face appointment, and so on.

It helps that I know my colleagues, they're not strangers to me, I can spot when they don't seem themselves, I might know about an event in their lives that may mean they'll benefit from my help.

My role is also to advocate for well being within the workplace, anything that might help support good mental health, even down to making the staff room comfortable.