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Blog posted by: Alexandra Galloway is Deputy Director of the Civil Service Reform Team, Cabinet Office, 07 December 2020 – Categories: General, Health & Wellbeing, Improved outcomes, Uncategorized.

Alexandra Galloway is Deputy Director, Civil Service Reform, Cabinet Office

My young daughter came home from school yesterday with a massive hole in her thick blue tights, with some pink bloodied skin poking through. I asked what had happened, and listened sympathetically as she explained how the game of “the floor is lava” had gotten out of hand.

I showed her where the first aid kit was, and how its contents could help with different injuries. And we talked about what she might do (or not do) to help her deal with the injury, and help it get better. She was delighted to get out of bath-time. 

First aid in action 

Just as we have physical health we have mental health. And like we have physical first aiders, we also have mental health first aiders. 

I’m one of them. There are around 150 of us in the Cabinet Office, and many more across the Civil Service. 

Trained to listen

A bit like my example of giving physical first aid to my daughter, our role as a Mental Health First Aider is to be available for, and look out for those with mental health issues.

We are trained to listen and reassure in a non-judgemental way to your concerns. Many of us have lived experience of mental health, either our own or of loved ones, and will do our best to empathise with your situation. We will also signpost professional support if it's needed - a bit like a physical first aid kit - and will always treat your conversion as confidential. 

Confidential support service

Mental Health First Aider logo

Mental Health First Aiders will offer their support in a number of ways and this will inevitably vary across organisations.

Check out your departmental intranet to find out what is available to you. They may offer a confidential support service, promote good wellbeing through events and newsletters, group discussions to develop peer support in an organisation, as well as looking out for those around them who may need help.

Reduce stigma

Above all, their actions help to normalise mental ill health and reduce the stigma that remains present. 

We do all of this in the Cabinet Office, and are always looking to build on best practice across our network, so our Mental Health First Aiders are fully supported and visible, meaning that they’re better able to support our colleagues. 

Feeling low

The range of mental health issues we encounter can be considerable. It can be an individual who is feeling low and finding it hard to stay motivated at work. Someone else might be grieving and finding it difficult to see light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Another person may be in crisis with thoughts of ending their own life.

Massive difference

Of course, some of these conversations can be distressing, and in a crisis situation, we are obliged to call on professionals if an individual appears to be in immediate danger. We are not medical professionals ourselves, but we don’t shy away from these situations because we know that our support can make a massive difference to an individual’s life.

Look after our wellbeing

It’s really important that as Mental Health First Aiders, we look after our own wellbeing as a priority to ensure that we are in the best position to support others. 

My plea to readers is that you make mental health as important as your physical health.

This means focussing on both prevention (exploring the actions you need to take to support good mental health, like Mind’s 5 ways to wellbeing) and treatment. This includes creating your own mental health first aid kit, of which I hope Mental Health First Aiders are an important part!

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