Mental health first aiders appointed at TMF Jersey

Thursday 28 December 2017

TMF Group, a provider of business services to companies operating and investing globally, has become one of the first Fiduciary Services Businesses in Jersey to appoint a team of mental health first aiders (MHFAs) for its 70-strong St Helier workforce.

The move is designed to help any employees who may be struggling with mental health issues and comes on the heels of the UK’s October 2017 'Thriving At Work' study, which found that there are now more people at work with mental health conditions than ever before, and 300,000 people with long term mental health problems lose their jobs each year.

TMF Jersey’s MHFAs were trained and appointed at the suggestion of employee Jo Carpenter. She has worked tirelessly to promote the importance of good mental health and was very open about her own history with anxiety and depression upon joining the company one year ago.

The MHFA team sends regular staff communications to make sure colleagues are aware that they can be contacted – confidentially – to talk through their concerns at any time. Where it’s identified that a member of staff has more complex needs, the MHFA can assist them to seek appropriate support through their GP.

Ms Carpenter explained: “When I joined TMF Jersey, I didn’t hide the struggles that I’d had and the company has continued to support me. It has enabled me to maintain good mental health on the understanding that I will be listened to. Everyone has bad days, and knowing that there is someone who will listen in the office has really helped.”

Cengiz Somay, Managing Director at TMF Jersey, said: “Training and appointing a team of mental health first aiders was a brilliant idea from Jo. The business world tends to push mental health matters under the carpet as they are perceived to show weakness. Yet we are all human beings and are affected by lots of things going on in both our personal and working lives.

“Speaking up about your personal mental health struggle is a brave step to take at any point, so, I don’t want people to be ashamed to come forward and receive easily accessible support from people who can help. We hope by creating an excellent support network at TMF Jersey we can do our part to destigmatise mental illness, especially in the business world.”

The recent Thriving At Work study highlighted that a lack of adequate mental health support in the workplace can have a knock-on effect to other team members; through increased workloads due to high staff turnover rates and sick leave. And poor mental health is estimated to cost employers in the professional services sector on average £1,473 - £1,998 per employee, per year.

Mr Somay added: “I am passionate about leading businesses that care about their employees and invest in them, and don’t just say they are ‘people-centric’ with no substance. I know that if you value and support your fellow team members, the results will follow, for everyone!”

Pictured: From left, Julia Twohig-Jones, Jo Carpenter and Dave Le Guyader.