Mental Health First Aiders Support Linnaeus Wellbeing Aims
4 years ago 
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As veterinary practices across the country adjust to a new way of working during the COVID-19 pandemic, a leading employer is ensuring all its employees have access to vital support via more than 100 mental health first aiders.
Linnaeus, which is part of Mars Petcare, has more than 120 primary care and referral centre sites across the UK, all of which have been impacted by the current lockdown and social distancing measures put in place by the government to battle Coronavirus.
Last year, the group, based in the West Midlands, launched an innovative plan to support its employees by linking up with Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA) to provide a huge number of volunteers with an accredited training course.
The MHFA course trains people to identify the signs of mental ill health, to break down the stigma and barriers surrounding mental health and listen to colleagues in a non-judgemental way, and to help direct those suffering from issues to the support and guidance that’s available.
Linnaeus is now ensuring those first aiders are able to provide crucial support to all its employees during the current circumstances.
Linnaeus chief operating officer Emma Barnes believes the current Coronavirus pandemic will bring a continued focus to mental health across the country.
Emma said: “Linnaeus has always strived to be a leader in mental health support and we take the emotional, mental and physical wellbeing of our employees extremely seriously.
“The veterinary industry has always been a fast-paced and, at times, a stressful environment. This can be obviously be amplified in the current circumstances, when we are all being affected by such huge differences in our day-to-day work and life.
“With our practices all operating in a very different capacity, it’s more important now than ever that we continue to provide support to every one of our employees.
“A real focus for us over the past year has been to work with MHFA England to train mental health first aiders within the group. As a result, we have more than 100 who are providing much-needed support to our teams, along with the regular advice and help we have always provided.
“We will continue to offer as much support and help as our valued employees require throughout these very strange times and beyond. We are all in this together.”
As well as access to an unprecedented number of mental health first aiders, Linnaeus also provides tools such as a ‘stress container’ programme, which helps staff identify how to understand and address stress levels, and ‘five ways to wellbeing’, which offers advice and tips to help thrive in the workplace.
Anyone who needs support can contact the Vetlife Helpline on 0303 040 2551 or anonymously via www.vetlife.org.uk.
To find out more information about Linnaeus, visit www.linnaeusgroup.co.uk or search for Linnaeus on LinkedIn.
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