60 seconds with mental health first aider Melanie Alveranga
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A donation of £20,000 from Barts Charity will leave a legacy of improved health and wellbeing at St Bartholomew’s Hospital beyond the coronavirus pandemic, including funding training courses for mental health first aiders across the site.
We caught up with Melanie Alveranga, lead clinical perfusionist and mental health first aider at St Bartholomew’s, to learn more about the training, how it will help staff, and why she’s passionate about mental health support for NHS workers.
Mental health first aiders are trained to listen non-judgementally and are able to provide support and direct staff to mental health services and resources if required.
What is mental health first aider training?
Mental health first aider training trains people to become mental health first aiders (MHFA). The Trust aims to have one or two MHFAs in each hospital department.
Having more first aiders available will enable staff to seek support more readily when required. The training will equip the trainees with materials and information based on the ALGEE method:
- Approach the person
- Listen non-judgementally
- Give support and information
- Encourage the person to get appropriate professional help
- Encourage other support.
Why are you passionate about this?
I am a lead clinical perfusionist working in cardiac theatres at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and have always had an interest in wellbeing and in particular staff wellbeing in theatres, which is a non-public facing environment.
A few years ago, I completed a MSc in occupational and organisational psychology and my thesis was focused on wellbeing. That research really opened my eyes as to how different factors, even small things, made an impact on people’s wellbeing.
As I continued to develop my wellness coaching practice, I received an email bulletin from the Trust which asked interested parties to apply to become a mental health first aider.
I immediately knew this would be the perfect initiative to create a safe space for people to open up about their mental health and embarked on the training course.
What do you think you will bring to mental health first aider training?
I am excited to become a trainer and think my coaching skills will benefit me as a trainer, as I enjoy using my own knowledge and experience to develop others.
My clinical background will also enable me to relate job-based pressures, and their impact on wellbeing, with the course participants.
My exposure to different parts of the Trust may also help attract participants from across the organisation. This will allow the Trust to have more mental health first aiders on board and encourage more areas to have a MHFA to talk to and signpost people if required.
Is there any advice you can give to staff to help them with mental health and wellbeing?
This service is for all staff in all departments. I would say people should just engage in conversation if they feel they need to talk to someone. The MHFAs are trained to listen non-judgementally and will be able to direct staff to services and resources if required. Everyone should know it is ok not to be ok.
How do you think that the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of NHS staff?
The pandemic has seen an unprecedented period for the nation. NHS staff have preceded to go into autopilot mode with their dedication to patient care and, for some, in ways they have never experienced before.
It is amazing how everyone has come together seamlessly to provide patient care. Although it is unclear how this will affect staff in the long-term, I am pleased to see that St Bartholomew’s is putting resources in place to help staff with mental health support.
How can other staff support mental health and wellbeing?
Staff can promote mental health and wellbeing by talking openly and listening non- judgementally about mental health, which will help to break down the stigmas and barriers associated with mental wellbeing.
How can I become a mental health first aider?
The Trust will have openings on the intranet for anyone to apply for the next cohort.
How can I receive support from them?
They were bright green badges and support can be via:
- Face-to-face – for those who are working on sites
- Email – the MHFA mailbox
- Telephone/Text -to be arranged with MHFA
To speak to a MHFA, please contact us on MHFA.bartshealth@nhs.uk
The funding has been given to each hospital site across Barts Health by Barts Charity, as part of their Covid-19 appeal.
Visit the charity’s website to find out more about the appeal and how it’s making a difference to the lives of patients, staff and their families at Barts Health.
For Mental Health Awareness Week 2020, The Royal London Hospital interviewed mental health first aider, Marufa Begum, about her experience for #TeamBartsHealth blog.