Mental health care issues highlighted at conference

ARCH (Alternative Resolution of Conflict in Harrogate district) organised the scheme which were run by Dariel Pitt, an accredited Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor, at the Pavilions.

The aim of the courses was to enable participants to gain a wider understanding for themselves and others, of some of the issues surrounding mental health; to gain a greater understanding of how and why positive and negative mental health affects people and organisations and to work more effectively with people experiencing mental health problems.

Dariel said: “We are constantly being made aware of the importance of looking after our physical health so it stands to reason that our mental health is of equal value.

“Statistics show that one in four people will experience a mental health problem in the course of a year and the estimated overall cost of mental health problems to UK businesses is now £30.3 billion per annum.

“Not a single day passes when I don’t draw on some aspect of my training.”

Patricia Shulver, Energy Advice Officer for Housing and Property at Harrogate Borough Council, who attended the course, added: “It has given me a much greater understanding of mental health.

“I now realise that we all have mental health just as we have physical health and over time mental health changes just as our physical health does.”

It is proposed to hold a series of in-depth two-day MHFA training courses early in 2016.

ARCH is a registered charity providing mediation, conciliation, counselling, coaching and training services for individuals, young people, families and organisations.

In addition to neighbour and community mediation services which, with support from Harrogate Borough Council, are free to residents in the district, ARCH also provides coaching services to the Women’s Refuge in Harrogate.

For further information on ARCH, its services and courses, email [email protected] or telephone 01423 546227/546175.