Mental health related absences have more than halved at a borough council after staff received training in Mental Health First Aid.

Maidstone Borough Council staff took a total of more than 500 sick days because of poor mental health between July and September last year.

The absences amount to losing eight members of staff for the three month period.

As a result the council's mental health consultant Hannah Smith trained 30 of its staff in Mental Health First Aid, a course to help people understand and assist those who may be struggling with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

The Kent Messenger took the same course last November.

Having trained its own staff in MHFA, the number of people on sick leave due to mental health problems has more than halved.

Maidstone and Mid Kent Mind (MMKM) offers Mental Health First Aid training to any member of the public.

Charity CEO Julie Blackmore said: "MHFA training can be invaluable. It increases an individual’s awareness around mental health whilst also informing them about the signs and symptoms of someone whom may be struggling.

"There are credible studies which indicate that mental health and physical health are linked, so when we think about our overall health, it is so important that we encourage workplaces to think about mental health as well as physical health.

"MMKM are proud to offer this training to anyone in the local area who, like the team at MBC, feel as though additional training may help them to better support the mental health of others. If you would like to access this training, you can do so by clicking here."

Between April and June council staff took more than 100 sick days - around 400 days less than a year ago.

A total of 64 staff have left the council since July 2018.

Cancer is now the biggest reason for absent days at the council, with mental health second.

Council documents from its Workforce Strategy Update read: "The feedback from staff has been that managers also need to have knowledge on mental health to enable them to recognise signs of mental illness as well as provide the support required by staff."

As a result Miss Smith, who runs The Emotional Resilient Intuitive Company, will deliver I-act training to managers.

The consultant explained: "The I-act programme helps managers understand what a diagnosis is and understand what companies need to do legally and ethically to support a member of staff in the workplace."

A Maidstone Borough Council spokeswoman said: "The majority of staff on long term sick due to mental health illness have returned to work through the support provided by the council.

"Mental illness can take some time to recover from as the issues may be difficult and complex to deal with. The council has always been supportive to all staff and provided many different wellbeing initiatives."

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