"I am delighted to welcome our two new ambassadors to support us in our vision of improving the mental health of the nation. Our ambassadors each bring their own wealth of experience and passion to the subject of mental health and are an important link into different and diverse communities. We are looking forward to working with Julia, Matt, Caroline and Michelle as we strive to achieve our mission of training one in ten adults in mental health knowledge and skills."
Matt Alexander, Director at Intratek adds:
Julia Mazzafiore, Mental Health Lead, Diversity and Inclusion, Department for Work and Pensions adds:"I’m very excited about being part of the MHFA England family and being appointed as an Ambassador for this inspirational organisation. I intend to make sure that my life experiences are used to help others feel more confident to speak about their mental health and seek support if they need it."
MHFA England’s existing ambassadors, Michelle Morgan and Caroline Hounsell will remain in post and continue advocating for better mental health for all, using their expertise and lived experience to help create an unshakable belief in society that it’s OK to talk about mental health and seek support when needed."I am delighted to become an MHFA England Ambassador. I have had the privilege of leading an enthusiastic and dedicated network of DWP Mental Health First Aiders – all of whom have contributed towards tackling the stigma and discrimination that we know continues to exist around mental health and providing invaluable peer-to-peer support across our organisation. In looking after each other, we are better able to support our citizens.
"My ambition is to continue to increase confidence in talking about mental health across government and contribute to MHFA England’s ambition of training one in ten of the population in mental health knowledge and skills."
Caroline Hounsell, Director at Phoenix Philosophy adds and BACP Accredited Psychotherapist:"When I experienced burnout, anxiety and clinical depression I received a stigmatising comment which was silencing, crushing and delayed me asking for help and getting treatment. From a place of recovery, I now champion the idea that sharing how we are feeling is the key to smashing the stigma attached to poor mental health.
"Giving individuals and organisations the frameworks, like the one designed by MHFA England, to have those conversations is how we help strengthen the capability and the confidence to step into having these conversations. I trained as a Mental Health First Aider, then as an MHFA England Instructor Member so I could teach MHFA courses and now I am proud to be an Ambassador. Mental Health First Aid training is transformational and needed now, more than ever."
To find out more about MHFA England visit mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/about/who-we-are/ambassadors."I’m so proud to be a founding member, a National Trainer, an Instructor Member, and now an Ambassador for MHFA England. Since 2007, we’ve achieved so much in our mission for parity of esteem between mental and physical health.
"I continue to be hopeful about a time when we can be all completely open about our mental health without any fears of discrimination. MHFA England plays such an important role in this movement, I’m excited to continue supporting them in any way I can."