Mental Health Matters

My name is Rob and I’m a Rapid Responder within Solutions and Automation and I’m based in the South East. I also volunteer as a Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) and have done so since its introduction in September 2019.

I chair the quarterly MHFA meetings where our team of mental health first aiders get together to discuss things currently impacting our staff. This platform also allows us to share innovative ideas of how we can continue to provide support to those who need it.

Of one the main responsibilities of being a MHFA is to simply be there for people if they need someone to talk to. Although we’ve received training, we’re not qualified professionals so it’s not a substitute for professional mental health care, but for some people, just having someone to share their problem with can help and start them on their journey towards improving their mental health

This confidential service often includes signposting people to a variety of available internal support such as our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) sponsored by AXA, self-help and at times, to external resources and charities.

As part of my role as a site lead, I attend the Business Unit Lead Group meetings to find out what’s happening across different areas of the business in terms of how EDF continues to manage the wellbeing of our people. I relay this to the rest of the MHFA team and also share their ideas of how we can continuously improve the service we provide.

Becoming a MHFA has given me an opportunity to help others. Mental health is something that affects everyone and it’s very common to experience poor mental health at some point, yet there is still stigma and misconceptions surrounding it. It needs to be something we feel comfortable talking about so people know they’re not alone and there is help and hope out there. I want to play my part in raising awareness and create a more supportive environment.