Belgravia Foundation rolls out mental health training for Belgravia Leisure staff

The Belgravia Foundation has announced a joint project to roll out free Mental Health Training to all Belgravia Leisure employees in Australia and New Zealand. 

The free online training program, developed in the United Kingdom by UK Coaching, Mind and 1st4Sport, is also available to aquatic, fitness and recreation industry professionals worldwide until the 31st August. 

In a statement introducing the initiative, The Belgravia Foundation advises "the impact of COVID-19 has affected every industry in Australia and New Zealand, but the leisure and fitness industry could be considered amongst the most affected by government mandated lockdowns and closures. 

"The Belgravia Foundation (has) actively looked for ways to support the mental health of employees within the health and leisure industry and the local communities in which they serve." 

In mid-August, all of Belgravia Leisure’s employees were encouraged to enrol in the online Mental Health Awareness Training Program. The aim of the program is to provide practical skills and strategies for employees to: 

• Build people’s resilience, self-esteem and confidence 
• Adapt facilities and programs to make them more inclusive 
• Enable and support mental health recovery 
• Tackle stigma and discrimination

Associate Professor Jeff Walkley, Chief Executive of The Belgravia Foundation, noted "with the growing uncertainty and extended COVID-19 restrictions in Australia and New Zealand, we felt it was important that the employees at Belgravia Leisure were equipped with the tools to support their own mental health and their local communities.”

At the completion of the training course, employees reported in an anonymous survey: 

• 12% increase in confidence and readiness to support anyone with a mental health issue 
• 23% increase in confidence in adapting their sports and physical programs to accommodate a mental health issue 
• 21% increase in awareness of the barriers to physical activity as a result of poor mental health 
• 21% increase in their rating of organisational support from Belgravia Leisure to support staff to increase their confidence and capacity around mental health 

Employees provided the following survey feedback:

“This was the most relevant and insightful survey that I have ever done. Even as an experienced nurse, mental health in my experience was always the last to be addressed.” 

“I’ve completed the mental health awareness course and found it extremely helpful, informative and empathetic.” 

The Mental Health Awareness Training Program is free until 31st August.

To find out more about this training program, visit the Belgravia Foundation website at www.belgraviafoundation.org.au/