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Having good neighbours is not only good for the wellbeing of our local community, but it is also an essential part of our personal well-being and that of our loved ones. An everyday conversation with a neighbour can be a very revealing thing, sharing local gossip, local events and more often than not, both good and worrying times, and creates friendships and even a small support network.

 

On one such conversation with his neighbour, Paul, Web Editor Chris Ingram, was surprised to learn that he is a Mental Health First Aider and a mental health supporter involved in fitness training and men's physical wellbeing and mental health group.

 

Here in his own words is Paul's journey to becoming a Mental Health First Aider and Men's fitness and mental health suporter:

 

"I have been interested in mental health and the benefits of being involved for many years now. I think that stemmed from the job that I’ve done for twenty-five years, where I’ve either dealt with the ever increasing number of people that are in crisis or just need someone to talk to.
I've also been the person that needs to talk and know that it has helped me a number of times deal with some of the operational incidents that I have dealt with.

About five years ago I started training (fitness) at ‘Kaizen Wirral Mindset CiC’ (https:/ /www.kaizen-mindset.co.uk).

 

A short time later I became a volunteer.

This came about due to a friend that I was in the army with, having been depressed, almost taking his own life before he, in his own words, had a good talking to himself.

 

He developed a system through research that included physical training along with breath work, talking to others, and includes a whatsapp group for those training. This is used so that people can keep in touch and it’s not just a class twice a week where people see each other at lessons, on for example; how your nervous system effects your feelings and what you can do to help.

 

And at training sessions, such as on The Circle of Concern. (Which I have completed and found to be beneficial.)

The gym also has information boards on most of the walls that can be read while you are training. On occasion social events are organised that brings all the classes, volunteers, ambassadors and supporters together. This Christmas we'll be having a black tie event.

There is a lot more information and hands on approaches that I’ve not mentioned here that are carried out by the CiC. You can see a lot of what happens on their facebook page.

Initially it was aimed at men over thirty. We currently have a number of men in that group and over the age of seventy who’s health has improved and, in some cases, reduced their need for medication.

The classes have now evolved and include separate mixed, female, LGBTQ+ and emergency services so that each individual can train in a safe and friendly environment that they feel comfortable in.

Initially my role was to assist with the circuit training classes and now on occasion I will run them myself with the plan to run my own in the near future.

 

As the CiC (Community Interest Company) developed it was able to offer some of the volunteer’s courses such as Mental Health First Aider.

I went on that course recently and it provided a number of resources that I’ve been able to utilise almost immediately. For example, being part of the CiC means that we are provided with hoodies and t shirts that identify us as being involved and what we can offer as an individual."

 

It was at this point that Paul explained how his volunteer work and the fact he is a Mental Health First Aider, has benefitted not only himself, but work colleagues, and even total strangers:

"Recently I was travelling home from work on the train and was wearing the hoodie mentioned. I could see that there was a man stood in the doorway looking at me and what was written on it. I acknowledged him and he started asking me what the CiC was.

 

I’ve explained what we did and how it has helped a lot of people. It was at that point he started talking to me about how he was depressed due to a number of personal reasons. By that time, we were both stood by the doors and were getting off at the same station. As we did that, we walked towards the carpark still talking and he was opening up about his problems and not knowing what to do.

When we reached where he was parked, we stopped and carried on talking for about twenty minutes. Not just about what was bothering him but ways that might help him, how he could find extra help and resources that might be beneficial to him.

As the conversation came to an end he shook my hand, smiled and said that just being able to talk to someone about what was going on had really helped him. If he hadn’t seen my hoodie, he would have kept it bottled up as he had nobody to talk with or thought would listen to him.

 

He got in his car saying that he was now going to make an effort to get himself help or at least help himself.

 

I’ve had a number of encounters with people not only members of the public but those in work as I’m also a peer supporter within that role who are just having bad days and instead of spiralling, they come and vent to me, which sometimes is all it takes. Mostly we walk away laughing and for those that don’t sometimes all it takes is a quick hello the following day.

Becoming a MHFA and being part of Kaizen Mindset has helped me a lot. It makes me accountable for my actions, it’s shown me that there is help out there and a lot more people that you think are suffering with their mental health so if I can be a small cog in a massive machine then I’m glad to do my bit."

 

As all CWU MHFAs are aware, talking to somone, who is happy just to listen; can often be the differece between life and death for those suffering with mental ill-health. But this story above, is an example of how even talking with a complete stranger can help someone who is on the verge of falling into the abyss of desperation; just goes to show how we can help our fellow human beings and make a diffefence to their lives.

 

Source: Paul / MFHA / Unionsafety

 

If you are a CWU Mental Health First Aider, and have a story you would like Unionsafety to feature, either in name or anonymously, please contact the Unionsafety website editor here

 

Designed: Chris Ingram, Jamie McGovern
Hosted: Unionsafety