The role of a Mental Health First Aider is to be a point of contact and support for any member of staff, who may be experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress.
The University is committed to providing out MHFA with support to ensure they are confident with their role.
Please refer to the Code of Conduct
It is important to understand your own limitations emotionally as a MHFA. Your role is to support in the initial stages of contact and determine if the individual requires a referral to professional support.
The updated list of MHFA can be found on the page Contact a MHFAider. If you are a qualified MHFA and would like to be added to the database, please contact Staff Development.
Below are a few key internal services you can refer a colleague for further support.
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) Service: We have an EAP service, which offer up to six free counselling sessions, which are 100% confidential, and if you require more, sessions, that can also be arranged anonymously. This usually takes between 4-6 weeks to be matched with a councillor.
Read 5 Tips to help someone having a panic attack [PDF] (source: GOV.UK)
Human Resources: You may wish to contact your HR Advisor for additional support.
Health and Safety: You may wish to contact our Health and Safety Advisor, Pam at pamela.du-bisette@beds.ac.uk for additional support
Annual Wellbeing Event: We run a wellbeing event in January, which colleagues may be interested in. Please contact pamela.du-bisette@beds.ac.uk for more information.
External support: You may wish to contact your local doctor, the Samaritans or Turning Point for additional support.
Crisis Cafés - In Luton, Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes – Drop in: No appointment necessary. Find out more about Crisis Cafés in Luton, Bedford and Milton Keynes
Crisis Café Birmingham - Find out more about Crisis Café in Birmingham
Samaritans - 24 hour listening service. Call free on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
Shout - 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. Text "shout" to 85258
National Suicide Helpline - 0800 689 5652 – open 24/7
Although your role as a MHFA is to support staff, you may, from time to time, see a student in distress around the campus. You can still speak to the student to see how they are and to offer support.
Should you feel the student needs additional support, please take/refer them to Student Support.
In Luton, Student Support is behind SiD on level 2 of the Campus Centre, and in Bedford is in P0.31a. If you think the student needs further support you should not be arranging follow up sessions with them.
If you feel a student is okay, but later change your mind, that is okay! You can contact Support and Report at supportandreport@beds.ac.uk or you can contact one of the teams in Student Support directly:
Student Support will not be able to update you on the support they offer to students.