Cumbria-based Abbey House Hotel and Gardens has trained three of its senior managers in mental health first aid, to support both the physical and mental wellbeing of its 100-strong workforce.
The training, delivered by Dalton-based organisation SOA Safety, was completed in July 2019 for the hotel's head chef, marketing manager and events manager.
The two-day mental health first aid course was designed to equip senior managers to understand and spot the symptoms of mental ill-health, in order to help employees who may be experiencing mental health issues in silence.
John Horton, general manager at Abbey House Hotel and Gardens, said: “We’re very keen at the Abbey House Hotel and Gardens to do what we can to look after both the physical and mental health of our team.
“People who have mental health challenges can quite often internalise them, when the best thing to do is seek the appropriate help and support.
“Our mental health first aiders are not trained counsellors; however, they have been coached in what to look out for and the next steps to take, should they feel that a colleague is in need of support.”
The organisation plans to extend its mental health first aid training, rolling it out across the business over the course of the year.
Yasmin Platt, marketing manager and mental health first aider at Abbey House Hotel and Gardens, added: “It was a very intense and emotional two days. We learned so much about the different ways in which mental health can affect somebody.
“It has certainly changed the way in which I think about mental health, and also my perspective on the issue. I’m finding that I am far more aware of my colleagues’ behaviour and demeanor, and am tuned in to the signs they may be having difficulties.”
