Farrer & Co announces suite of mental health first aiders

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Independent law firm Farrer & Co LLP has revealed that 36 employees have now been trained as mental health first aiders and will be offering support to colleagues who have mental health concerns.

The firm plans to unveil the group of mental health first aiders at an internal firm event on Monday 9 May to coincide with the start of Mental Health Awareness Week. The group includes representatives from several departments and of varying levels of seniority, as well as fee-earners and those on business services teams. With a range of people involved, the group has been created to offer employees a choice of contacts to approach for informed and confidential mental health guidance.

Mental health expert Josh Connelly will feature as a guest speaker at the event on topics including the impact of loneliness, which is the theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week.

The group of appointed mental health first aiders are all volunteers and have completed comprehensive training provided by Mental Health First Aid England. Regular refresher courses will be completed and the volunteers will meet regularly to offer each other peer-to-peer support.

Sarah Green, an associate at the firm and one of the new mental health first aiders said: “As someone who has benefitted from the firm’s mental health support services in the past, I know how easily worrying or anxious thoughts can escalate if not aired. I also know the incredible relief and peace of mind that talking through these problems can bring. I am proud to play my part in supporting my colleagues, and hope that anyone with mental health concerns now feels more confident to come forward for support.”

Rachel Lewis, partner and board member at Farrer & Co, added: “Our agile working framework, which gives employees more choice about working from home or the office to better suit their needs and those of our clients, has provided a useful platform for a more mindful approach. We want everyone to bring their whole selves to work, and being able to talk openly about mental health is a big part of that. Thanks to our Mental Health First Aiders, we are now even better placed to start up these important conversations.”