Westgate business offering free mental health awareness courses for employers

Image Newscast Online/Mind

A recruitment business owner from Margate who has sadly experienced the loss of several friends to suicide is offering free mental health awareness courses to all employers.

Samantha Cox, 41, runs True Recruitment Ltd based in Westgate. She has previously worked with employability projects for training providers including helping young people with barriers such as poor mental health and learning difficulties.

Following a cut to funding for the role and an extensive job search Samantha, who has had her own experience of poor mental health decided to launch her own recruitment firm.

She said: “Over the last few years I have seen so many budget cuts which have had a massive impact on the NHS and in turn mental health services. If a person is in need of help how do they know what to do?

“I feel employers have a duty of care to look after their employees’ mental health as well as their physical health. If someone injured their finger at work on a machine and needed a plaster they would know where to go but if they were suffering with anxiety, depression or any other mental health issues 61% of employees would not know who to ask for help.

“This is something close to my heart as I have lost a few friends in the last five years to suicide so I want to be able to teach employers how to notice the signs and what to do.

“It’s getting people to talk about mental health.

“The training I’m offering will make employers be able to recognise any symptoms and I am currently working with local support groups to arrange a fast track service for support.

“We also offer free CV advice service, mock interviews and job brokering for people who are out of work and are looking to get back into the labour market to help improve their mental health.”

The free sessions can be delivered in the workplace and help with spotting the early signs of poor mental health, how to offer help, preventing harm and aiding recovery.

For details call 01843 268114 or email [email protected]

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide – Thanet

There is also a support group for people in Thanet who have lost loved ones through suicide.

Jackie with son Chris

Set up by Jackie Bergeron, SOBS – Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide – Thanet, helps other families in the same way that a group helped her after the loss of her son.

The group meets in St John’s Community Centre, Victoria Road, Margate, every last Tuesday in the month from 7.30pm till 9.30pm.

The group is independently run but comes under the umbrella of the national SOBS charity.

Find SOBS Thanet on facebook here

Find UK SOBS here

For further details call 07522 955806 or email [email protected]

Read here: Ramsgate mental health supported living property shuts service amid contract changes