To coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week 2024, we spoke with MDR’s mental health first aiders about their role and the support they can offer. In our final profile, we hear from Dr Caroline Sands, Dr Jia Li and Kate Chappell. Caroline is a Research Associate at the Phenome Centre, Jia is a Reader in Biological Chemistry in the Section of Nutrition and Kate is a technician in the Phenome Centre.
What is the role of a Mental Health First Aider (MHFA)?
Listening to colleagues and students and providing information on various channels that they can get help from.
What motivated you to become a MHFA?
Mental health problems are common, and we see an increasing number of students and staff experiencing stress and mental health issues, especially as the stigma of talking about mental health (quite rightly!) decreases. This motivated us to take the training and to learn about how to listen, talk to and support people experiencing these issues.
What is the most rewarding thing about being a MHFA?
Our understanding of mental health has grown significantly. We now feel confident in providing support to students, colleagues, and family, and friends should they need it. It is of huge value to recognise the varied and individual signs of mental ill health and be able to signpost people to the support appropriate for them.
What sort of person should become a MHFA?
Everyone can and should. Being a MHFA has increased our awareness and understanding of mental health. We feel that the more people who are trained in MHFA promote a greater understanding of mental health in general and encourage people to talk more freely, reducing the stigma associated with talking about mental health and reaching out for help. There are lots of resources for learning more about MHFA, from e-learning courses of awareness training to the full accredited course.
What would your advice be to someone who thinks they could have a mental health issue?
The first step, often one of the most difficult steps, is to encourage yourself to have a chat with a MHFA or a friend about your concerns. MHFAs are trained to listen actively and non-judgementally, in confidence and will be able to point you towards further support, as well as being a support for you themselves.
How can people in the Department contact you if they need support?
Emails/teams/our office doors are always open too. Mental health first aiders wear a bright green lanyard, and a list of MHFAs and their contact details can be found on the Imperial website.
MDR’s Mental Health First Aiders
- Miss Katie Chappell – katie.chappell@imperial.ac.uk
- Dr Jia Li – jia.li@imperial.ac.uk
- Dr Joram Posma – j.posma11@imperial.ac.uk
- Dr Caroline Sands – caroline.sands01@imperial.ac.uk
- Ms Shazi Singh – shazi.singh@imperial.ac.uk
- Mrs Danielle Thornton – d.thornton@imperial.ac.uk
Do you want to become a Mental Health First Aider?
Our Mental Health First Aid courses teach people to identify common symptoms of mental health issues, offer first-line help and guide a person towards support. Mental Health First Aid training is available for staff who are involved in supporting colleagues or students.
Imeprial’s Mental Health Awareness Week 2024
Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 will take place at Imperial from 13 to 17 May. This is an annual event where there is an opportunity to focus on supporting good mental health. The event has become one of the biggest awareness weeks across the UK and globally.
There is an extensive programme of events across the week open to staff and students, organised by the People and Organisational Development team – full listings are on the Mental Health Awareness Week webpage.