Springfield’s Newest Mental Health First Aiders

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England provide support and training to educate people about poor mental health. The Mental Health First Aider course focuses on teaching people what poor mental health is, how to identify people who are struggling, how to offer immediate first aid and/or how to signpost to the right professional help. This includes suicide awareness and how to support someone who may be having suicidal thoughts.

Our Wellbeing Ambassadors on day 1 of the Mental Health First Aid England course

At Springfield, we have Wellbeing Ambassadors in each home who meet regularly to discuss any concerns and what they can do to help, support and signpost colleagues who may need some support. Our Wellbeing Ambassadors undertook the Mental Health First Aid training course to provide them with the relevant underpinning knowledge to fulfil their roles. This course took place on 22nd/23rd February 2023 and we had 16 attendees from Springfield Care Villages, including regional team members and Home/Deputy Home managers from across the company.

Springfield colleagues on the MHFA England course

Adele Burton, Employee Wellbeing Lead at Springfield Healthcare, said “Since our Wellbeing Ambassadors are colleagues from within the homes, my hope is that staff will feel comfortable to approach them if they are struggling with anything. I want staff to know that it is ok not to be okay and to know that they should not feel embarrassed if they are suffering with poor mental health. I want them to approach us and talk about it so we can help.

Adele Burton, Employee Wellbeing Lead at Springfield Healthcare

Since inception last year, this initiative has been very successful and my hope is that we can reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. I’m keen to encourage more colleagues to become Wellbeing Ambassadors so there is always someone to turn too if staff ever need to talk to someone.”

Springfield’s Wellbeing Ambassadors