Why I became a Mental Health First Aider: Hannah, Recruitment Business Partner

By Hannah Church, Recruitment Business Partner

​This year, as part of Guidant’s people-centric employer ethos, we decided to invest into mental health first aid training for our people (you can read more on how it all began here).

I work on the Industrial, Catering & Commercial Public Sector Desk at Christchurch House in Luton and have worked with Guidant Global for just over 4 years. I first became interested in mental health when I was one of the dedicated first aiders in my previous job. I dealt with a lot of scenarios that actually would have benefitted from me knowing about mental health and in some cases, I felt like I needed the support too, to understand my own mental wellness.

In addition, I have also lost two friends due to mental health, one of whom I was very close with. Most people at some point in their lives have experienced their own struggles with mental health, and no matter how big or small it is, it is key to know that you are not alone and there will always be someone that you can speak to. I fully support the saying “a problem shared is a problem halved”. So when Guidant was calling for people to be a Mental Health First Aider (MHFA), I couldn’t say no.

With so many different people working within Guidant Global from all different levels, sectors and backgrounds, I feel privileged to be the one that people can reach out to if they need to talk. As a MHFA, while I can’t give medical advice, I do act as an important first point of contact to approach for help. I think it’s great that Guidant is investing and training its people to learn how to deal with situations surrounding such an important topic.

Want to be a part of our global family where we’re firmly committed to supporting those overlooked in the world of work? Check out our latest vacancies here >