World Mental Health Day is on October 10. This year the theme is ‘it is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace.’

On World Mental Health Day, let’s all come together to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters. Talking about our mental health can help us cope better with life’s ups and downs. So, on World Mental Health Day and beyond it, why not check in with your friends, family, peers, or colleagues?

Checking in and talking about how we're feeling, especially at work, can be tricky. We all know it’s important, but we don't always know how and in our busy lives we often forget to do it.

Tips for looking after your mental health at work:

• Check in regularly and ask yourself how you are feeling
• Be kind to yourself and avoid negative self talk
• Take breaks and make time to connect with colleagues

EA have a number of resources available to help support your mental health and wellbeing, including:-

It Starts With Me - 10 ways to help and support your emotional health and wellbeing

EA have collaborated with the DE-DoH emotional health and wellbeing framework in schools to develop a brilliant resource leaflet aimed at providing support for staff mental health and emotional health and wellbeing.

Click on the leaflet below to download for tips and strategies to support your mental health and wellbeing.

EA Mental Health First Aider Network

To help support our staff in schools and corporate settings the EA now has over 340 staff trained as Mental Health First Aiders.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) (Adult) Training is a PHA accredited training course which teaches people how to identify, understand and help someone who may be experiencing a mental health issue.

This course is ideal for individuals who would like to become a MHFA in their workplace to gain the knowledge and skills to spot signs of people experiencing poor mental health and to be confident to start a conversation and signpost for appropriate support.

What’s more you will gain an understanding of how to support positive wellbeing and tackle stigma around mental health in your workplace.

If you would like to become a Mental Health First Aider for your school or workplace or would like further information on becoming a MHFA then please email healthandwellbeing@eani.org.uk

There are several cohorts of MHFA training sessions being held over the coming months and details will be issued to all those on the waiting list for the training. The training will be held over two full days and will be face to face in a range of locations.

Click here to contact a Mental Health First Aider in your school or location for support.

Term 1 HealthWell Programme

Term 1 of the 2024 EA HealthWell Programme is now available for all EA staff (schools and services) to avail of. The programme provides staff with the latest health and wellbeing initiatives, sessions and campaigns taking place during up to December 2024.

Click here to check out the full HealthWell Programme and register now for many webinars and sessions with availability that will help support your mental health and wellbeing.