Cumbria County Council have recently trained nine Union Learning Reps (ULRs) to help support staff to look at learning opportunities and to help them overcome the devastating news of 2000 employees facing redundancy.

That news comes with many strains and stresses employees will face during the process of reorganisation and ULRs will play an important part of Cumbria CC's support mechanism, identifying training and looking after employee’s wellbeing whilst the process continues.

Looking after employees' wellbeing becomes more important than ever in today’s busy lives people lead and Stress and Mental Health has become the highest reason for sickness for employers, costing £30billion in lost productivity in the UK today.

Cumbria CC Management, GMB and Unison all wanted to work together to understand more about mental health and help support employees in the workplace. Unionlearn now offer Mental Health First Aid training for Trade Union members and Management after Ken Gyles (Unionlearn Senior Union Support Officer) was trained by Mental Health England to deliver the two day course.

On 24th & 25th September, the first course took place in the Old Courts in Carlisle for reps and management. At the end of the two days the course outcomes for those attending were:

• Recognise the symptoms of mental health problems
• Provide initial help
• Guide the person towards the appropriate professional help
• Be mindful of their own wellbeing 

Paula Raine, KS4 Pastoral leader said:

I thoroughly enjoyed the mental health first course (MHFA). It was really interesting and engaging and the group worked well together. There was a lot to take in over the 2 days but it was done with Q&A which let us look at it from others point of view. 

As we are aware,  mental health in young people is forever increasing. I currently work with mostly years 14/16 year olds. Since this year I have already signposted 3 students who have had early prognosis. I now know they are getting the right professional support. 

My understanding and knowledge has been extended and the course covered areas I had no knowledge of and it helped make me aware of the warning signs of mental health. The world is a busy place with economic climate, redundancies, social media, homelessness and drug and alcohol affecting all walks of life. Juggling family life and work is very challenging at times as we know. 

The thing with mental health is it doesn’t just affect the weak and the poor; it’s cancerous and will and does affect anybody at any time. Thank you and I recommend others within Cumbria CC to attend future courses."

Ewan Hall (GMB Convenor) said:

I enjoyed the two day course and my knowledge and understanding on mental health is much improved, I am supporting more and more members now on anxiety and stress at Cumbria CC due to reorganisation and job losses and now I am trained in MHFA, I can support those members with a better understanding."

Ken Gyles, SUSO for the Northern region, said:

Now the first group of members have been trained on MHFA, I hope together with the unions and management that a strategy can be developed to provide more training that is needed to support employees at Cumbria CC."