LSH Auto trains 23 more Mental Health First Aiders

Mercedes-Benz dealership group, LSH Auto, has revealed it has successfully trained a further 23 of its colleagues as Mental Health First Aiders across the North-west and West Midlands.

Ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from the 9th to the 15th May, the LSH Auto has revealed it has now trained more than 50 accredited Mental Health First Aiders across its UK dealerships, with at least one working at all its sites including Mercedes-Benz of Macclesfield.

Head of Human Resources at the automotive retailer, Ian Williams commented:

“Last year we launched an active programme to support the mental health and well-being of our colleagues. As a result, all managers are trained in Mental Health First Aid and we have at least one dedicated Mental Health First Aider in every location to support our colleagues.

“Our policy is to ensure our colleagues know that they are important and valued. In fact, our colleague commitment is ‘You Matter. Always.’ and we encourage the whole team to live and breathe our company values of Trust, Integrity, Teamwork, Relevance and Social Responsibility.”

In recent weeks, 23 more LSH Auto colleagues have been trained as Mental Health First Aiders, via an accredited one-day course covering:

• What is First Aid for Mental Health?
• Identifying Mental Health Conditions
• Providing advice and starting a conversation
• Stress
• Mental Health conditions
• Drugs and alcohol
• First Aid for Mental Health Action Plan
• First Aid for Mental Health in the workplace

Ashley Palmer, Aftersales Manager at Mercedes-Benz of Tamworth, was among those to have taken part in the training, and said:

“I am extremely proud that LSH Auto offered me the opportunity to become a qualified Mental Health First Aider. It enables me to understand individuals on a more personal level and to build staff morale, which is of the upmost importance. Being able to identify the signs of some Mental Health conditions, and to offer support, really strengthens our team and our business.”

Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event when there is an opportunity for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health. This year, it will take place from 9 to 15 May and the theme is ‘Loneliness’.

The Mental Health Foundation started the event 21 years ago and over the years, it has grown to become one of the biggest awareness weeks across the UK and globally.

According to the Foundation, loneliness is affecting more and more people in the UK and has had a huge impact on our physical and mental health during the pandemic. Our connection to other people and our community is fundamental to protecting our mental health and we need to find better ways of tackling the epidemic of loneliness. We can all play a part in this.  

Throughout the week, LSH Auto will be part of the movement to tackle loneliness by sharing stories and resources from The Mental Health Foundation with its colleagues and customers.

Ian Williams added:

“We’re incredibly proud of our Mental Health First Aiders and the positive impact that they are already having in supporting their friends and colleagues. This Mental Health Awareness Week, we want to help raise awareness of the impact of loneliness on our mental wellbeing and will also be sharing some practical advice from The Mental Health Foundation on what we all can do to address it.”