At API, our entire leadership team is proud to hold Mental Health First Aid training certifications. Developed by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, this course provides learning and resources for its participants to help others dealing with mental health and substance use challenges.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, it is estimated that at least one in five Americans live with some sort of mental illness – equaling approximately 57.8 million individuals as of 2021. Understandably, dealing with certain mental health challenges can significantly impact an individual’s daily life, including their job.
As part of our ongoing efforts to encourage a safe and supportive working environment for all, our entire API leadership team is certified in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA).
“With American Phoenix, Inc. being a second chance employer, our leadership team has come across many individuals facing life challenges that tend to lead to mental health issues,” says Andrew Carbert, HR Team Lead. “Because of this, our leadership team decided that Mental Health First Aid Training would be a crucial investment to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to support our people.”
This evidence-based program has been created by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing (previously known as the National Council for Behavioral Health) to provide an extension of traditional first aid training covering mental health and substance use challenges.
The goal is to teach participants how to “recognize the signs and symptoms that suggest a potential mental health or substance use challenge, how to listen non-judgmentally and give reassurance to a person who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge, and how to refer a person to appropriate support and services.”
MHFA training helps participants learn to identify patterns of thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and appearances that may indicate that an individual is experiencing a mental health challenge, provides insight into how to use effective body language, word choice, and listening skills, and outlines an action plan of how to handle crises appropriately.
The program also shows participants how they can become an advocate in their community, promoting positive coping skills and self-care initiatives that may be the first step in an individual’s recovery journey.
“I am so proud to be working for an organization whose leadership team is cognizant of the importance of mental health awareness and how to assist our people in challenging times,” says Andrew.
The roles of MHFA Training Course participants at API include:
- Human Resource Team Members
- Plant Managers
- Safety Department Managers
- Office Managers
- Production Supervisors
- Sanitation Supervisor
- Maintenance Supervisors
- Traffic Supervisors
“By equipping our leadership team with the skills from this mental health first aid training course, we’re not just addressing workplace challenges; we’re creating a culture of empathy and understanding, where everyone’s mental health matters,” says Mike Richards, Plant Manager
At American Phoenix, Inc., we believe that everyone matters, and we are committed to learning, growing, and winning together.
To learn more about the importance of this initiative, check out Supporting Employee Mental Health in the Manufacturing Industry as well as thenationalcouncil.org and mentalhealthfirstaid.org.
And, if you’re interested in joining our dedicated team at API, visit our careers page to see available openings.
For more articles From the Plant, check out our blog.
