In this episode, Becky talks about the importance of addressing mental health in the workplace and how it's crucial to consider the individual needs of each employee. She emphasises that it's not possible to make a blanket decision and says that one approach will help everyone's mental health.

Becky mentions that there are some basic guidelines that organisations can follow, but ultimately, it depends on the organisation itself. For example, some organisations may not be able to work only from nine to five if most of their work is done at night. However, there are some general basics around mental health, such as having an awareness of it, spotting the signs, and having HR policies in place that offer support to employees struggling with their mental health.

In this YouTube episode, Becky shares her frustration with the current state of mental health services for young people. She notes that often young people who are struggling with their mental health are referred to services only when they are on the brink of crisis, after waiting for years to be seen. She argues that there are simple and effective things that could be done to support young people earlier, such as investing in grassroots organisations and bringing back youth clubs.

Becky draws on her own experiences of finding solace and support in extracurricular activities during a difficult time in her life and argues that not all young people have access to these resources. She highlights the success of a program she worked on called the multi-agency collective, which brought together organisations working in the arts, sports, and other areas to provide support to young people on the waiting list for mental health services.

In this episode, Becky also talks about her experience with burnout, which is a feeling of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion that is caused by prolonged stress. Becky used to work as a teacher, a job that is already known to be tough and demanding, and she shares how the stress from her job led to burnout.

Becky shares that she knew things weren't great when she would spend her weekends with her kids but still be thinking about work and checking her emails constantly. She had some challenging cases with young people at school that were having an emotional impact on her, and she would be completely distant from her family. She advises against having work emails on your phone, as it can be tempting to constantly check them and not allow yourself any downtime.

Becky discusses the topic of Mental Health First Aid and the importance of having a whole organisation approach to mental health. She explains that although having people trained in mental health first aid is a good start, it's not enough on its own. The organisation needs to have systems and policies in place that support staff mental health, including workload expectations. Becky shares an example of teaching, where Mental Health First Aid is not effective if teachers are up late marking and attending multiple meetings a week.

She also addresses some concerns people have about Mental Health First Aid, such as the quality of training and whether anyone can go through it. Becky believes that ongoing support is necessary, and she keeps in touch with the people she has trained.

Becky talks about how mental health education should be just as important as any other subject taught in schools, as it helps young people to identify and name their emotions, which is an essential skill for a fulfilling life. She shares a personal anecdote about her daughter's struggles with anxiety and how it's important to understand what young people mean when they say they're anxious.

Overall, this podcast provides valuable insights and advice for anyone interested in mental health and well-being.

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