Employees at six island firms and schools teamed up for training to promote and maintain good mental health.

DQ Advocates hosted the two-day training programme led by wellbeing training organisation Manx Minds.

It attracted 11 delegates from DQ, IQ-EQ, Tower Insurance, St. Ninian’s High School, QEII High School and Nedbank Private Wealth.

All completed the course and received mental health first aid certificates.

It’s estimated one in three people in the Isle of Man could be affected by a mental health issue and that early intervention plays a key part in tackling this.

DQ chose to take a pro-active approach to mental health prevention by enlisting the services of Ramsey-based Manx Minds, which was formed to deliver training to local businesses and individuals who want to learn more about and improve their skills in dealing with a range of mental health and wellbeing issues.

Course instructor Ali Vondy said: ’It is widely accepted that stress and anxiety are a normal part of life and that mental health challenges naturally exist in a variety of sectors, both public and private. Manx Minds was set up to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, break down barriers and support people to stay well, recover, or manage their symptoms so they can thrive, whether that be in education, in the workplace, or just life generally.

’We are passionate about spotting and helping people at the earliest possible stage of mental ill health so it was heartening to hear from participants who believe the courses we offer can make a real difference. A thank you also to DQ for kindly approaching and hosting us.’

One of the 11 delegates who completed the course was DQ’s Jessica Cocker, a trainee advocate within the firm’s dispute resolution department.

She said: ’As a business, DQ is committed to supporting the mental health of its employees and a lot of emphasis is placed on staff wellbeing.

’I found the sessions to be extremely informative and now feel more knowledgeable and confident in my ability to help someone who may be experiencing a mental health issue.’

lManx Minds runs a variety of training programmes. More information is available by emailing: [email protected] or by visiting: manxminds.com