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Meet our talented Principal Master Mental Health First Aid Instructor, Katherine Houareau
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Katherine Houareau, Principal Master Instructor, MHFA Trainer Profile;
Q: What inspired you to become a MHFA Instructor and how long have you been delivering the courses?
My journey to become a MHFA Instructor was the result of having my own personal experiences of mental health and suicide, becoming a MHFA Aider and wanting to give back to community by Chairing the Wanneroo and Communities Suicide Prevention Network.
Our local member Dr Ann Aly MP supports our network and encouraged us to apply for a grant through the Department of Social Services. I am so grateful as it gave our network the opportunity to train a large number of our volunteer members and also the community for free delivering over $20,000 of training in six months.
Not only do I bring my passion and my insight’s first hand to such a valuable skill set and resource to educate others, but also support those who are most vulnerable and the community with the aim to reduce stigma and shame that is associated with Mental Health and Suicide through the training.
Q: Why do you think Mental Health First Aid training is so important for financial professionals?
In a previous life I worked for a government agency supporting small businesses and then became an MYOB Consultant & Bookkeeper and ATO BAS Agent. I saw the challenges that the many clients faced not just in business but also in their lives overall.
Operating a business can be rewarding but also stressful and the long term issues of stress and financial concerns can have major implications such as increasing the risk of developing a mental health condition even leading to experiences of suicide.
Early intervention is a priority and becoming a MHFA Aider and acting as a navigator is a great way to support your clients and the broader community through a proven award winning evidence based resources and training. These skills could literally save a life.
Q: What makes you so passionate about your work as an MHFA Instructor for the Counting on U Program with Mentally Well Workplaces?
The Counting on U Program is an innovative framework that compliments the MHFA training building on skill sets and providing important tools which allow Financial Service Professionals to further develop a rapport with clients and community in an ever changing global environment.
These important skills allow “corporate” professionals to develop more of a “humanistic” approach through building on emotional intelligence, reframing, language and trust to develop conversations around a person centred approach, which is essential in supporting someone experiencing mental health distress or in crisis.
Q: What are 3 things you like to focus on and do exceptionally well when delivering Mental Health First Aid courses?
- Ensuring all participants feel safe. Safety is very important in mental health and a priority for me especially in a learning environment, it’s critical that all participants feel safe, heard and validated with the ability to share their personal stories and insights by supporting accordingly.
- Encouraging active participation, through listening, the exchange of ideas and views from the cohort is important in MHFA. We all have different life experiences, beliefs, goals and we may also come from different cultures, sharing in the group opens the doors to hear new points of views and beliefs around mental health. By encouraging active participation, it helps reduce the stigma associated with mental health.
- As someone who identifies with Lived Experience it’s important to build on the content and theory by demonstrating real life practical examples and applications which not only embeds the learning but really helps participants to become self aware and effective in supporting their clients, employees, family, friends and broader community.
Q:What are your own self-care practices for staying mentally well?
I was always told you have to “Practice what you Preach” and hold myself accountable to this simple philosophy. I like to start my day with a holistic approach and start my day with some meditation and breathwork, positive affirmations and like to mix up my exercise routine and go for walks, a session on the cross trainer or out on my stand up paddleboard at the beach. I also like to get a session of reflexology, massage, laughter yoga or acupuncture to maintain my overall wellness.
Q: Why would you recommend finance professionals, small business owners and employees in general become accredited Mental Health First Aiders?
Sadly business owners and entrepreneurs work longer than doctors, a third will not even take time off over Christmas, with an average of 24 percent working 7 days a week and 16 percent working more than 60 hours a week from a research paper by Prospa. Mental Health is everyone’s business and its good business. Becoming an accredited Mental Health First Aider is a key intervention to ensuring overall mental health and wellbeing, not only can you learn some important skills and tools which are transferrable in our lives, but it will help reduce the economic cost in the health and business sector but as a priority you can help others stay mentally well and even save lives.
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