Mental Health Champion Network
The University
is committed to placing health and wellbeing at the heart of the experience of
working at the University and to ensure that all members of staff are able to
work in a supportive, health-promoting and caring environment, where they are
valued and respected.
What is a Mental Health Champion?
Mental Health Champions are a point of contact for an employee who is experiencing a mental health issue or emotional
distress, helping the person get appropriate help, and also provide early
intervention for someone who may be developing a mental health issue. A
Mental Health Champion is not expected to act as a counsellor or share their
own experiences (if they are not comfortable doing so).
A Mental Health Champion also takes action to raise awareness of mental
health problems amongst staff, challenges mental health stigma, and provides
peer support to colleagues.
What do Champions do?
A Mental Health Champion can be supportive in a
number of ways:
- Follow
the SMHFA steps (ALGEE) if a person is in immediate crisis or life threatening
situation
- Understand
and recognise the signs of mental health problems/conditions
- If
you see a colleague in (non-life threatening) distress, provide comfort to
understand the situation
- Signpost
the person to the university support tools which also details external support
tools
- Provide
a listening ear (sometimes that is all people want and need)
- Raise
awareness of mental health and make it part of normal conversation to help
tackle stigma
How does the Network operate?
The university promotes the Mental Health Champion Network through a
number of channels:
- Mental Health Champion Network list is
on the staff intranet divided into Campus support
- Mental Health Champion’s will promote they are a Champion by having the
following signature on their email; I’m a Mental Health First Aider. You’re welcome to
talk to me about anything.
- During induction, staff will be
informed about the mental health & wellbeing support available and this
will include the Mental Health Champion Network
If a colleague approaches a Mental Health Champion for support the
Mental Health Champion should offer to meet them/speak with them in the most
comfortable (workplace) environment for the colleague within core working
hours.
Colleagues approaching a Mental Health Champion should be confident that
the conversation is confidential. However, if the Champion has a serious
concern for the colleague’s safety and wellbeing then the standard University
Safeguarding Policy guidelines apply and the Champion can seek advice from HR.
Network Mental Health Champion Campus List
Sighthill
Campus
Craiglockhart
Campus
Merchiston
Campus
|
Name
|
School/Professional
Services area
|
Phone
number
|
Email
|
|
Dr Suha Jaradat
|
School of Engineering & the Built
Environment
|
X 2489
|
S.Jaradat@napier.ac.uk
|
| John Barclay |
Property & Facilities |
X 2591
Multi campus;
S/H-X 6119
C/L–X 4578 |
j.barclay@napier.ac.uk |
Bainfield
Student Accommodation