Buttress staff become Mental Health First Aiders

Two members of staff have become qualified Mental Health First Aiders.

Associate Director, Chithra Marsh, and Senior Architect, Edward Kepczyk, have completed a Royal Society for Public Health accredited course, designed to support people who may be experiencing mental health issues.

Developed by Mental Health First Aid England, the course offers an in-depth understanding of the factors that can affect wellbeing and is designed to equip participants with the practical skills to identify a person who may be developing, or have, a mental health issue.

The course also aims to give people the confidence to support a person in distress and the knowledge on how to guide them towards professional help.

Chithra Marsh said: “Completing the training demonstrates the practice’s commitment to employee health and wellbeing.

“However, it is just a small piece of the puzzle, really supporting good mental health means creating a work environment that positively contributes towards individuals’ wellbeing.

“Over next year, we will be delivering an exciting programme of mental and physical health initiatives that will strengthen our existing culture of staff wellbeing, and ensure that the studio is a place where employees feel comfortable talking about mental health issues, free from stigma.”