The mental health and wellbeing of our employees is something we take very seriously at Key Forensic Services.

Like so many other companies around the world, we have been deeply affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the very nature of the work we carry out here at KFS also brings with it significant other issues that we are duty-bound to address.

For example, you may remember during Mental Awareness Week in May this year that one of our forensic scientists, Jess Adby, wrote an extremely personal and, at times, heartbreaking story, detailing her own experiences on the frontline.

It was very brave of Jess to open up in this way, especially as she has seen some harrowing sights during her 20 years of examining items from the most tragic and violent of cases.

But, by sharing her experiences, Jess was able to expertly convey the effects that her job as had on her own mental health and wellbeing.

So, as you can see, it’s very important to us as a company that we help look after our employees and do everything we can to support them, every step of the way. And that extends to their lives outside of work, too.

Which is why, during the past couple of weeks, 13 members of KFS staff have trained to be mental health first aiders. This complements the Employee Assistance Programme we launched earlier this year, as well as the wellness hub we provide all our employees via our intranet.

The courses have been organised by Mental Health England (MHFA), whose vision is to improve the mental health of the nation. With the added impact from coronavirus, never before has this been more important.

These courses, which are run online, give our newly-qualified health first aiders:

• An in-depth understanding of mental health and the factors that can affect wellbeing
• Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of a range of mental health issues
• Confidence to step in, reassure and support a person in distress using the Mental Health First Aid action plan
• Enhanced interpersonal skills, such as non-judgemental listening
• Knowledge to help someone recover their health by guiding them to further support – whether through self-help resources, internal support such as EAP, or external sources such as their GP
• An understanding of how to keep themselves safe while performing their duties

The courses are simple and easy to follow. Each one is delivered online through the MHFA England Online Learning Hub, and learning takes place through four live training sessions, with self-learning activities in between.

If you want to do more to help support your employees and look after their mental health, it’s worthwhile taking a look at these courses. More information can be found on the MHFA England website here.