Executive Assistant Becci Woolhouse, along with Gravitate Accounting Co-founder Sam Newton, recently became qualified as a Mental Health First Aider (MHFA). We sat down with Becci to learn more about her experience and gain valuable insights on mental health awareness.

Becci, tell us about your experience on the MHFA course.

"The course was truly eye-opening," Becci says."I'm incredibly grateful to Gravitate Accounting for giving me this opportunity. It's significantly boosted my confidence in understanding mentalhealth as a whole, especially regarding the stigma surrounding it. We need to address people who use mental health conditions or terminology flippantly, like'I'm a little bit OCD.' This kind of behaviour perpetuates the stigma. Our focus should be on education and challenging these outdated ideologies."

What surprised you most during the course?

"Two things really stood out," Becci explains."Firstly, the statistics. We all hear about people struggling with mental health, but the data truly drives home its prevalence. Secondly, the complexity of self-harm and eating disorders. Every case is unique, and there's not one-size-fits-all approach."

How did the course affect you emotionally?

"While the course itself was manageable," Becci admits, "I felt exhausted afterward. Absorbing all that information took its toll. Despite that initial fatigue, the experience was incredibly valuable, and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again."

What inspired you to become an MHFA?

"My primary motivation was to learn how to confidently support others facing mental health challenges," Becci says."Our human instinct is to offer solutions and take control, but the course emphasised the importance of active listening and guiding people towards proper resources. As an MHFA, my role is to be a supportive presence and help them connect with the right support system."

Is there a specific mental health fact or statistic you think everyone should be aware of?

"Absolutely," Becci states. "Poor mental health is responsible for a staggering 72 million lost working days and costsUK employers around £45 billion annually!"

Thank you Becci for taking time to share your experience with us. For more information on how to become a MHFA click here!