Leading provider of integrated facilities solutions, ABM, has introduced a mental health first aid training program across its aviation and business and industry divisions. The investment is one of the first of its kind in the industry and has been created in partnership with TalkOut, a market-leading change and development platform.
The training program will equip team members, such as security officers, train station cleaning teams and those working in airports and shopping centers, with the right skills when faced with difficult situations while working.
The training rollout began in March and due to the overwhelmingly positive response from those involved, ABM has invested further. With the support of its clients, ABM will invest in training more team members across its clients sites and across all job roles.
This means that by the summer, 75 team members across the ABM UK business will be trained in mental health first aid.
John McPherson, Managing Director at ABM UK, says: “Our teams are working amongst the public every day and we recognize the positive role that they can play in identifying those who are struggling with poor mental health and dealing with critical situations. As we emerge from an extremely challenging time, this has never been more important.
“It is our duty to support our teams and equip them with the right skills and knowledge to manage these situations. It’s also vital that we help and support them to process those difficult experiences afterwards.”
The mental health first aid training is provided by TalkOut over a series of sessions and focuses on developing the skills needed to help in a moment of crisis. On completion of the course, all individuals will be qualified as mental health first aiders.
Antony Marke, Managing Director at ABM Aviation, says: “Similar to colleague teams from Business and Industry, the Aviation sector has seen significant challenges over the past thirteen months. Many of our team have been on extended periods of furlough and, as a result, they may find returning to the workplace gives them varying levels of anxiety. Having access to ‘in-house’ subject matter experts in their places of work, will ensure they feel fully supported and build their confidence in the early days’.
Leanne Stant, Head of Mental Health at TalkOut, says: “Mental health problems can present lots of difficult moments of crisis. Suicide and self-harm are big problems and should be treated carefully and compassionately. It’s so important that we equip those people on the ground being faced with someone in a moment of crisis with the right skills to manage the situation.
“ABM is leading by example here. Its commitment to supporting good mental health and wellbeing within the facilities management and aviation industry is commendable.”
