North West Region MHFAs Numbers Grow
Jamie McGovern, CWU Grter Mersey Branch Area Safety Rep, has pioneered Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) training in the North West adding ever increasing numbers of CWU members across the region's Royal Mail offices. Helping to support the training, the North West Health & Safety Lead, Mark Holt; is also heading up the issues of the need for good mental health in workplaces and the work of Mental Health First Aiders in signposting colleagues who are in need of mental health support.
Indeed the work of both Jamie and Mark along with the hundreds of MHFA already embedded into their workplaces, has undoubtedly saved lives, both in terms of CWU support and where needed; changes to working practices following representation to line management within Royal Mail.
Further, because of the work of National Officer, Dave Joyce, in promoting the need for mental health support within Royal Mail in conjunction with the CWU health & safety community; Royal Mail Group has introduced supporting measures with regard to the mental health of their workforce.
This was before his retirement and the decision not to fill the post and to close down the H&S dept at CWU HQ of course.
Speaking to Unionsafety, the host of CWU NW Regional Mental Health Network, Jamie said:
"The demand for MHFA training from CWU members means that now the NW Parcels hub has the highest ratio of Mental Health First Aiders of any large Royal Mail site in the UK. With 86 people from NW hub trained since 2021, and given that they have around 980 total staff we aren't far off the 1 in 10 ratio of MHFAs to employees now."
Below is a photo of CWU members enrolled at the latest Mental Health First Aider training course:
It is interesting to note that at the completion of every training event, feedback forms are provided so that the newly accredited Mental Health First Aiders can comment on the course they have just completed.
This is juts a few of the comments received from the latest training held this month:
"Being on the course was an eye opener and an experience I needed I have witnessed suicide first hand on
several occasions and suffered mentally in my life due to circumstances out of my control so to see and read about
the way we can deal with these issues and help others was extremely important for me."
"Excellent course - I felt that we could learn more from the instructors and spend more time understanding the
support groups / resources that are available etc Both trainers are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about
their subject which helps learners. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience."
"I really enjoyed the course, I found the course instructors to be very knowledgeable and have excellent
communication skills."
