Employee welfare is top priority at heat treatment specialist

Commercial manager, Claire Casswell, who is already qualified to Level 3 in Counselling, has gained MHFA England’s Certificate following an adult mental health first aid course, which teaches people how to spot the signs of mental health issues, offer initial help and guide the individual towards appropriate support.

Ms Casswell explained: “The course covered all types of mental illness, how it affects people individually, how to recognise ‘warning’ signs and guide them to advice before it develops further. We also learned how to manage someone who is in crisis.”

It is estimated that one in four people suffer from some form of mental illness during their lifetime, from panic attacks, anxiety, depression, self-harming and addictive behaviours, to PTSD. A lot of people ‘keep it to themselves’ because of the stigma attached to mental health issues.

“This is why it’s important to maintain confidentiality, so that the person affected can feel reassured that they will be listened to non-judgementally, and that their information won’t be disclosed to anyone else within the company,” continued Ms Casswell.

“Having first-hand experience of the effects of mental health issues within my own family, I am looking forward to helping others to avoid the distress that these can cause,” she concluded.

Flame Hardeners managing director, Roger Haw commented: “The pressures within the working environment, especially a sector that is as intensive as heat treatment, are greater now than they have ever been and we feel it is important to take a holistic approach to employee welfare so that the effects of those pressures can be minimised.”

Flame Hardeners www.flamehardeners.co.uk