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“Mental Health Awareness Week reminds us that community isn’t just something we belong to — it’s something we build. At Nationwide, we’re doing just that through our MHFAider® network.” - Sian Briddon, Senior Manager, Chief Operating Office Colleague Experience, MHFA England® Instructor Member, Nationwide
As the world’s largest building society, Nationwide is uniquely positioned to do more. Making banking fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society. But behind every policy, product, and process are people – colleagues, who face the same mental health challenges as anyone else. That's why Nationwide has invested deeply in cultivating a culture of care, to support every colleague in the moments that matter, anchored by its Mental Health First Aider community.
Having grown significantly in recent years, Nationwide’s community of trained MHFAiders has reached 196, with a pilot underway to train managers in Mental Health Aware. Their Minds Matter employee network has over 1,200 members, and over 300 conversations were recorded in 2024, with interactions ranging from support with stress, anxiety, and depression to crisis first aid.
Sian Briddon, who works with a dedicated network of volunteers, MHFAiders and Instructor Members within Nationwide, brings over 27 years of experience in banking and financial services, with a professional portfolio that spans leadership, EDI, employee experience, lifecycle management, operations, and business architecture.
As a passionate and authentic leader, she has made it her mission to promote inclusion and mental wellbeing at work. She co-established the MHFAider programme at Nationwide with her colleague, Liane Carver, and founded Minds Matter - Nationwide’s multi-award-winning employee network dedicated to supporting colleague mental health.
She became an approved MHFA England Instructor Member in 2024 and continues to advocate for inclusive, supportive environments where people can thrive. Sian’s leadership has been recognised through numerous awards, including being named Women in Tech Excellence 'Hero of the Year' (2022), Emerging Leader on the InsideOut Leaderboard (2022), and a judge for EDI categories in 2023.
Minds Matter received the InsideOut ‘Best New Mental Health Initiative’ (2023), 'Mental Health First Aid Award' (2024), and has been shortlisted twice for Best/Most Influential Employee Network & ERG.
For Sian, the human stories are what matter most. “That’s what this network gives people — a moment to breathe, to feel seen. It’s not about numbers or policies. It’s about people supporting people.”
At Nationwide, being a MHFAider isn’t just a badge, it’s a serious commitment. All volunteers complete the full MHFA course delivered in-house by experienced Instructor Members, supported by pre-training expectation-setting with line managers.
Potential MHFAiders must also complete an e-learning course from the Zero Suicide Alliance. The process is intentionally robust. As Sian explains:
“We want to be confident that those stepping into this space are truly ready — not just trained, but supported, and clear about their boundaries. That protects the wellbeing of everyone involved.”
By building inclusive training cohorts and creating welcoming pre-course spaces, Nationwide ensures that support begins long before the first conversation happens between a MHFAider and a colleague.
Being a MHFAider at Nationwide is not a static role, it's part of a dynamic community of ongoing development. Volunteers are given access to sessions through MHFA England and the Association of Mental Health First Aiders®, external thought leaders like resilience coach Josh Connolly, and digital learning through JAAQ (Just Ask A Question) at Work. This is a digital mental health platform that has been rolled out at Nationwide. As a result of this support, specialist pathways have emerged to meet nuanced needs. These include groups focused on hidden addiction, bereavement, domestic abuse, and menopause advocacy.
“Our MHFAiders represent the richness of our community. They’re customer facing colleagues, technical/delivery specialists, network chairs. Some have been through difficult times themselves. That shared lived experience encourages empathy and trust,” says Sian. MHFAiders are also encouraged to champion inclusion by getting involved with employee networks and attending lived experience storytelling sessions. This helps to create a ripple effect of understanding across the business.
True community thrives on connection — and Nationwide’s MHFAider community is no different. Monthly peer support drop-ins and an active Teams channel create safe spaces for MHFAiders to share reflections, troubleshoot challenges, and access real-time support.
Sian explains: “We’ve learned that our people need help to give help. So we’ve created a clear development path, with check-ins, boundaries, and tools to look after themselves. That care flows both ways.”
Recognising the particular pressures of frontline teams, MHFAiders in customer facing roles are ring-fenced to support their own colleagues. This model acknowledges context, builds trust, and reflects Nationwide’s deeply human approach to workplace mental health.
The value of the MHFAider network is both felt and measured. Regular insight-gathering tracks key indicators such as contact volumes, wellbeing trends, and access to escalation support. These insights have been shared with Health & Safety Committees, the Executive Committee, and the Board to make sure that they are embedding mental health into strategic decision-making. Recognition is equally important. MHFAiders are celebrated through national awards — not as heroes, but as humans doing meaningful work to support others.
At a time when there’s more focus than ever on stress-related illness, Sian believes the answer lies in connection, not correction.
“This isn’t about ticking boxes or hitting KPIs. It’s about building a workplace where kindness isn’t the exception — it’s the expectation. That’s what our MHFAider network is helping us do. One conversation at a time.”
With it being Mental Health Awareness Week, Sian’s message is clear: supportive communities at work don’t happen by chance. They are built intentionally with structure and compassion, and with people like Sian and her team of MHFAiders and volunteers leading the way.