Ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week (10th – 16th May), Operations Contact Centre Leader Helen tells us more about being a Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) and the importance of focusing on your mental health. I want to be directly involved in making a difference It’s important to me to support both our colleagues and the business with wellbeing, encouraging people to be open about how they are feeling and signposting support where possible. The wellbeing programme continued while many areas of our lives have been put on hold I personally feel the wellbeing programme has played a huge part in colleagues’ lives since the lockdowns started. We’ve had to put a lot on hold over the past 12 months, however the wellbeing programme has continued to support and raise awareness of topics that are really important and specifically during the pandemic, including diabetes, stress and sleep awareness. I’m really looking for to getting involved in the financial wellbeing support As this is my first year as a wellbeing champion and a MHFA, I’m looking forward to being involved in the whole wellbeing programme. In particular, I am looking forward to the nudge financial workshops to help leaders support their teams. Given the pandemic over the past 12 month, this is really key and not something we have done before. It’s so important to talk openly about mental health during Mental Health Awareness Week. Mental Health Awareness Week is key to raising awareness around mental health. Having just completed the training to be a MHFA, I know how important it is for people to be able to speak freely about mental health. There are so many resources and places of support where people can talk openly and be listened to in a non-judgemental way. Having an open dialogue regarding mental health can help you heal and get the right support to manage your mental health in order to live a happy and fulfilled life, as well as helping society to remove the stigma attached to mental health, in a time when mental health disorders are on the rise. Find out more about our wellbeing programme here.