Mental Health Staff Champions are colleagues who take action in the workplace to change the way we all think and act about mental health.
Supported by Mind’s Mentally Healthy Universities pilot programme, we've undertaken mental health awareness training. We're working to combat stigma around mental health and make it part of normal conversation.
We aim to make a real difference to workplace culture and to the lives of our colleagues by:
- Starting conversations about mental health
- Holding activities to make mental health a normal topic of conversation
- Helping to dispel myths and stereotypes
- Providing peer support
- Signposting colleagues appropriately to support
Find out more about us here and get in touch to talk about mental health and wellbeing.
Nourish your body, mind and soul - download the Mental Health Champions cookbook!
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Meet your Mental Health Champions
We need to encourage people to appreciate that mental health is as important as physical health. When we remove the stigma and barriers to understanding, through raising awareness and helping people to recognise the signs of what good and poor mental health looks like, we can start to support people to cope and lead healthier lives. I hope in my role as a Mental Health Champion I can help people to get more comfortable with the uncomfortable.
Contact me: s.a.akande@lse.ac.uk
I am a Mental Health Champion because I want to encourage a positive change. I would like people to feel more confident in discussing wellbeing and mental health by making these issues more of an everyday topic both in and outside the workplace.
Contact me: T.Arnold2@lse.ac.uk
Talking openly about mental health can make a big difference in tackling stigma, as we often see when supporting our students. I am grateful to also have experienced these benefits myself in the past from many colleagues. Together with all Mental Health Staff Champions I am passionate to assist creating more openness around mental health which will hopefully benefit colleagues across the School.
Contact me: e.j.baurdoux@lse.ac.uk
I am a Champion because I know how priceless support can be to people, even in a small way. The connections we make and how we make them within our community define all of us. Being mentally fit is as important as being physically fit and the two should be intertwined. We have gyms for our bodies, but our mind is what holds us together. Helping people with messages, signposting aids and generally feeling that by contributing I can make a difference is why I signed up. Smiles, laughter and listening are the connectives I use every day.
Contact me: a.boyle@lse.ac.uk
I became a Mental Health Champion because I wanted to share some of the coping mechanisms that have been shared with me. In doing so, I hope to start an open, honest and empathic conversation about mental health in the workplace.
Contact me: m.k.clarke@lse.ac.uk
I’m a Champion because I've suffered with mental health problems now and in the past and feel it's important to be able to have conversations around it.
Contact me: f.corby@lse.ac.uk
Mental Health Champions can take the pressure off time-strapped managers, by identifying areas of concern relating to your mental health. We take the initiative to improve your mental health and wellbeing, such as a walking group at lunch breaks or healthier onsite food options.
From the colleague perspective, Mental Health Champions can prove to be a valuable source of confidential support and encouragement, particularly for those who are disengaged with wellbeing initiatives or mistrustful of employer involvement. You may not want to seek support from direct management and appreciate a more peer-based approach to your wellbeing.
I advocate shifting from reactive to preventative healthcare, and our team of Mental Health Champions are here to support you.
If you, or anyone you know needs to communicate using British Sign Language, either offline via Teams or Zoom, or in person, then I am your man.
Contact me: s.r.eldritch-boersen@lse.ac.uk
I am a Champion because I believe fostering an environment of openness around mental health can break down perceived social barriers to help and support (whether that is formal or just connecting with another human). Poor mental health can be so detrimental on so many personal and professional levels and working to improve and care for it can be really empowering. Fun fact: I have crowd surfed at three out of the four Elvana (an Elvis fronted Nirvana tribute band – and yes you should check them out) gigs that I have been to.
Contact me: S.Lambert@lse.ac.uk
I became a Mental Health Champion because I believe it’s so important to raise awareness around mental health and encourage a mentally healthy, supportive working environment. I am also a Mental Health First Aider.
Contact me: a.maison@lse.ac.uk
Psychology and mental wellbeing are subjects that are close to my heart. I believe encouraging people to talk openly about how they feel is important and is why I became a Mental Health Champion. I am also a mental health first-aider, and an EDI (Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) representative.
Contact me: j.e.martin3@lse.ac.uk
Mental health makes such a difference to our lives, but we often take it for granted. I am a Mental Health Champion because I want to raise awareness of the things we can do to improve our wellbeing and to combat the stigma that still exists against those suffering from poor mental health. I am also a Mental Health First Aider.
Contact me: p.montague@lse.ac.uk
I believe it's important to promote good mental health and help breaking the stigma around it. I would like to encourage colleagues to look after their mental health and speak up for themselves or others when they feel unwell. I'm a German speaker and a Mental Health First Aider.
Contact me: a.pawley@lse.ac.uk
Anyone can experience mental health problems. I became a champion to offer support to those around me and to create a positive and understanding culture that is aware of mental health and values its importance.
Contact me: d.poole1@lse.ac.uk
We need to care for each other the same way we care about our students and fostering an environment where we feel free to talk about our mental health without fear of being stigmatised is primordial. I want to champion this idea. My mother language is Portuguese, and I have an intermediate level of Spanish.
Contact me: m.a.do-prado@lse.ac.uk
I'm a champion for my students and I wish to extend the same support to my colleagues. No magic wands, however I'm always willing to listen, maybe over a cup of tea. I’m also a Mental Health First Aider. Fun fact: I have four children and one grandson.
Contact me: d.trodden@lse.ac.uk