Last week our colleagues celebrated being awarded the NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Advocacy qualification. 

The 27 colleagues from various roles across the organisation completed the qualification as part of their commitment to raising awareness of mental health in the workplace and breaking the stigma of mental ill health, through their work as Halton Housing’s Wellbeing Champions. 

According to MIND UK, mental health problems affect around one in four people in any given year, ranging from common problems, such as depression and anxiety to rarer problems such as bipolar disorder. 

Chief Executive, Liz Haworth said: 

“Promoting a mentally healthy environment in the workplace and creating a culture of care is vitally important. Having a mentally healthy workplace can improve employee satisfaction and engagement, reduce absenteeism and staff turnover which ultimately has a big impact on our overall success. I’m extremely proud of everyone who has dedicated their time to undertaking this qualification at the same time as their day-to-day work commitments. I’ve no doubt the skills they have gained through this qualification will really make a difference to our colleagues”. 

Wellbeing Champion and Estate Services Operative, Andrew Coppard who was presented with his certificate added: 

“I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to undertake this qualification. This course has made me more aware of how people may be affected by mental health issues. I’m sure everyone who attended feels more enabled to help as a first point of contact because we have been provided with the tools to listen, advise and signpost colleagues. I now have confidence to assist anyone who is facing a whole range of mental health issues no matter how minor or serious.” 

This qualification offered in partnership with Three-Dimensional Training Ltd aims to give learners the skills to support colleagues with mental health problems by increasing their knowledge and understanding of mental health conditions and the principles of mental health first aid and how this can be implemented in the workplace.