Extraordinary Colleagues
Kirsty Elmes, Mental Health Lead, HMP Elmley
“We want to try and break down the stigma and know that staff can say if they’re not feeling great”
Trained mental health staff, local charities, therapy sessions and reflexology were all on offer during HMP Elmley’s wellbeing day, with staff signposted to support services to help them with challenging situations at work.
Kirsty Elmes, Mental Health Lead on the day at HMP Elmley, says: “There’s a stigma around mental health. If you’ve got a cough, you go to the doctors. If you’ve got a broken bone, you go to the hospital. If it’s something in your head or you’re exhausted or overwhelmed, why not reach out and get that mental health help which is why we organised the wellbeing day.
“It’s a tough, busy job and life in general is stressful, so we wanted to give staff the opportunity to step away from their day-today responsibilities and talk to volunteers and colleagues to find out more about what support is available. We want to try and break down the stigma and know that staff can say if they’re not feeling great.
Working in a prison is nothing like the TV shows make it out to be. Working here is like we’re one big family and we all support each other.”