Funeral Partners prioritises mental health support as Covid-19 restrictions ease It’s important for those in the funeral profession to always have access to quality mental health care, especially after the pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as support the wellbeing of those in their local communities. Funeral Partners funeral homes have therefore been busy offering virtual mental health training to local nursing home staff in Northern Ireland, in addition to themselves applying for the opportunity to become a Mental Health Champion across the Funeral Partners business to support and help their colleagues.
Championing mental health in the funeral home
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ental health awareness health issues is invaluable, and a has been a core focus responsibility I’m proud to have.” of Funeral Partners since Carolyn was one of 16 its foundation. In light of applicants who underwent two the Covid-19 outbreak, the days of training over Zoom by network has innovated by Mental Health First Aid England launching a new internal role (MHFA), where she learned to help its employees through how to support people with unprecedented times. depression, anxiety, self-harm, Any Funeral Partners employee psychosis, PTSD and suicidal can now apply to become a thoughts. Mental Health Champion and She said: “I found the training help colleagues struggling with to be both fascinating and Carolyn McCauley, Funeral their mental wellbeing, be enlightening. As all of us have a Arranger and newly-appointed it through a conversation or common interest in supporting Mental Health Champion at John the wellbeing of our colleagues, referral to specialist help. Gray & Co. Funeral Directors. Carolyn McCauley, Funeral we bonded well and were able Arranger at John Gray & Co to share our own thoughts, Funeral Directors, Bangor, was pleased to be feelings and fears without judgment.” accepted into the new programme and given Carolyn looks forward to opening up the the opportunity to challenge the stigma around conversation around mental health in her mental health. She said: “We all have a trained workplace and is pleased to hear Funeral first aider nearby in case of physical injury to Partners is already launching a second intake our bodies, so it makes sense to also have a first for Mental Health Champions. She concluded: aider for our minds. “The value of knowing you have helped make a “Being able to provide an early intervention difference to someone’s life is too great to be for someone who may be developing mental measured. “
Virtual mental health training for nursing homes
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ichelle McMaster is a qualified trauma therapist, social worker and mental health trainer who has worked in the funeral industry for over 20 years, helping the care sector and funeral homes to look after their teams’ mental health through one-to-one and group sessions.
4 | FuneralTimes
Social distancing restrictions brought on by the Covid-19 outbreak meant that Michelle and the Northern Ireland Funeral Partners funeral homes had to think creatively to continue offering support to those that need it most in their communities.
