15 Gardaí graduated as accredited Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training Facilitators in Garda Headquarters yesterday, demonstrating their commitment to promoting mental health awareness and providing health and wellbeing support in An Garda Síochána.
These graduates are the result of a partnership with Mental Health First Aid Ireland which sees Garda personnel throughout the country completing Mental Health First Aid Ireland certified training courses over the next 2 years. Accredited facilitators like those who graduated yesterday will deliver these courses to the whole organisation.
The aim is to provide Garda personnel with a better understanding of mental health, to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, and to help participants to recognise when someone may be in difficulty or in crisis with their mental health. This will have applications and benefits in supporting their own wellbeing, their peers and also when dealing with members of the public.
Newsbeat spoke with four facilitator graduates about their own training and the training they have provided so far. Garda Richard Byrne, Store Street said that the facilitator training course was “very eye-opening” and not what he initially expected. “I thought initially it would be police focussed”, he said. “I discovered that it wasn’t only for policing for but for you, your friends and your family”. Garda Patricia Devine, Garda College highlighted her motivation to spread the word in the organisation that "it’s ok to look after your mental wellbeing."
Garda Helen McGrath, Garda College expressed her passion for mental health and explained that her reasons for doing the course were personal, physical and mental. Garda Eilis O’Keefe, Ennis said she has seen first-hand friends and colleagues affected by their mental health. She said: “I can see how it’s (Mental Health First Aid) really beneficial and the feedback has been really positive from everyone. As mental health first aiders, we are sign posting people to where they will get the correct support”.
Speaking at the graduation, Commissioner Harris said: "Today is a proud day for you, our first cohort of graduates on this programme. Together, you are responsible for training 328 Garda personnel in Mental Health First Aid so far this year. That is a fantastic achievement. Congratulations to you all.
The work you do now, both in terms of implementing what you have learned but also in training others, will make a real difference to you, to your colleagues and to the public."
Also speaking at the graduation, Dr. Oghenovo Oghuvbu, Chief Medical Officer, An Garda Síochána said: “The An Garda Síochána Mental Health First Aid Programme provides An Garda Síochána with an evidence supported programme that has the potential to change the way we view mental health, talk about mental health and support mental health in the workplace.
“It also promotes organisational mental health resilience alongside other supports in line with the An Garda Síochána Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021 – 2025.”
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