Mental Health First Aid: why is it important and why do we do it?

Our research team has recently completed Mental Health First Aid courses, which means that we are now recognised as Mental Health First Aiders. One of our researchers, Hannah Johnstone, explains why this is important.

As a social research company, we at Horizons often work with qualitative data. For us, that means that we listen to the lived experience of an incredibly diverse group of people. Lived experience is an important part of social research, as we want to make sure that we hear the voices of those who interact with the services we evaluate and research to ensure that our findings are a true reflection of these experiences. 

Part of collecting qualitative data, however, means being aware that some people may experience mental health difficulties. Being equipped with the knowledge and skills to support the people we interview during data collection is not only beneficial, but is essential for social researchers. As such, our team of researchers are Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) trained, an important tool to ensure that our research is not only ethical, but ultimately safe and supportive.

MHFA: What is it?

As recognised Mental Health First Aiders, our team is now able to support anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. This involves not only recognising signs and symptoms, but also how to effectively signpost and offer mental health first aid to people experiencing depression, anxiety and other mental health difficulties.

What this means, then, is that during our interviews, focus groups and workshops, our researchers are able to recognise if someone may be experiencing a mental health crisis. We are able to support someone experiencing a crisis, making sure that they are safe and able to take the next step, whatever this may be.

Why is MHFA important for Horizons? 

Becoming MHFA trained is incredibly important for us, as we want to make sure that when we work alongside people, we are able to support them as well as ensuring our research is as ethically sound as possible.

As we recognise that we may be talking to people experiencing mental health difficulties, it is important for us that our researchers are able to support participants effectively, sensitively and confidently. Due to the nature of our work, we can be researching topics that can be triggering or challenging, as well as investigating factors such as socioeconomic status, education, social support, physical environment. We can also be working with people who may already be experiencing a diagnosed mental health condition. We want to make sure that regardless of our research topic, we are able to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the people we talk to.

Ethical considerations are at the heart of social research. As social researchers, we take our responsibility to protect the wellbeing of our participants very seriously. Being MHFA trained means that our research team are able to recognise signs of mental health distress, intervene and more importantly support appropriately. This skill is particularly crucial during interviews or surveys where we recognise that sensitive topics might be discussed.

Whilst our team are already empathetic and compassionate researchers, MHFA training has enabled us to build on these crucial skills, which is important when researching lived experiences. The ability to provide empathetic support can strengthen the important researcher-participant relationship, which ultimately helps us to gather the lived experiences of our participants.

What does this mean for the Horizons Research team?

We’re delighted to be a research organisation where the mental health and wellbeing of our participants and staff are at the heart of our work! We’re working towards becoming a trauma informed organisation, and MHFA training is the first step for us to ensure that anyone who works with us feels supported.