This month, our Senior Leadership Team took part in a two-day mental health first aid training course, kindly hosted by MHFA England.
At effect, putting people first is everything. The commitment we made over 15 years ago when the agency was founded remains the same today. And as we grow in 2024, we’ve been putting an increased emphasis on wellbeing and inclusivity. Part of that Wellbeing Plan focuses on mental health, and the first step was ensuring we had mental health first aiders across the team.
Advertising and Marketing can be notoriously fast-paced, and while mental health challenges are becoming less stigmatised, we believe it’s crucial that any person in a management position has the knowledge and skills to recognise, guide and support colleagues with their mental wellbeing.
MHFA England is the largest provider of high-quality mental health training, created with the help of leading clinical experts and those with lived experiences.
The two-day course gave an outline of the most common mental health struggles, how to recognise when colleagues may be struggling and most importantly how to strike a conversation.
🎉 A big congratulations to the team for completing the course:
Natasha Riley (Client Services Director)
Richard Glover (Financial Director)
Zoe Beeson (Head Of Client Services
Sanjay Katwa (Head Of UX & UI)
David Francis (Head Of Marketing)
Following these sessions, the remainder of the Senior Team will also embark on the course alongside others (across all seniority levels). It’s important to recognise that Mental Health First Aid can’t be done in isolation. Our aim, as a team, is to continually build our supportive and open culture that consciously acknowledges mental health struggles, even while expanding as an agency.
Natasha Riley, Client Services Director, explains:
"Attending the Mental Health First Aider Course with our leadership team was incredibly rewarding. Equipped with new skills and confidence, we're committed to prioritising our team's wellness at Effect. From actively listening to offering support during difficult times, we're taking meaningful steps to foster a mentally healthy workplace."
Keep an eye on our socials to follow what’s next!
