group photo including Sue Smith

Championing Mental Health

Sutcliffe & Co Insurance Brokers would like to introduce the team’s Mental Health First Aider: Sue Smith.

Duncan Sutcliffe, director, Sutcliffe & Co, commented: “Appointing a Mental Health First Aider seemed an obvious step when considering the health and wellbeing of our team: we already have medical first aiders, so why not one for our mental health?”

There is no doubt that mental health needs to be looked after just as much as physical health. Many businesses use the services of a mental health consultant or nurse to support their staff, but Sutcliffe & Co wanted to have an in-house, ‘on tap’ resource for its team.

Having completed a course on ‘Mental Health in Business’, Sutcliffe & Co’s Premier Team Leader Sue Smith stepped up to complete the Mental Health First Aider course earlier this year. Sue also volunteers for the Samaritans.

Sue added: “People often just need to be heard. In a busy office it can be very easy to bury your head in work or worry about being judged, whether your stresses are home or work-related. This doesn’t change when you work from home. We have an ‘open door’ policy, giving our team a safe, non-judgmental, space to talk.

“My role is to provide that space, the opportunity to talk, and help guide to the resources that could help – or just to hear them.”

Picture shows Sue (middle – stripey top) collecting her Mental Health First Aider certificate earlier this year