Initiative to deal with post-pandemic

By Miranda Robertson miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk

A ‘fourth emergency service’ is being formed in Dorset – an army of people trained in first aid mental health ready to stem a predicted tidal wave of problems post-pandemic. Problems with mental health have mushroomed since the lockdowns, and the double whammy of the cost of living increases has compounded the feelings of fear and helplessness felt by many people. But Marcus Fritch and Pastor Mark Topp of Dorchester’s Storehouse Church have launched a series of (non-religious) courses to train people to help others – and they are calling on individuals, companies and groups to take up their offer. The pair’s work helping the community began in earnest in week one of lockdown.

Pastor Mark said: “By the end of the first week of lockdown we had started delivering food parcels.

“People were losing their jobs, not able to go out and get food. We delivered 150 food parcels a week across Dorset, going as far as Gillingham and Lyme Regis, before other agencies took over.

“The number of people suffering mental health conditions rose to one in four during the pandemic. “To then to go into a costof-living crisis and a heating crisis… The figures, once they truly come out, are going to be mind-blowing.”

Food poverty is a major concern, and the pair felt strongly that the stigma felt by some people using a foodbank, to which you must be referred by a GP, social worker or similar, must not be an issue for people in need.

They launched ‘Community Share’ and four community larders to help.

Marcus said: “Community Share focuses on putting people back at the centre of the community and supporting their wellness. “Post-pandemic, we support to the community without referral. There’s a significant group of people who are not on benefits but in food poverty.

“From very early on in the pandemic we realised people’s mental wellness would be challenged and in the years that followed we trained as first aid mental health instructors. We are hoping to build a group of people who can signpost people to professional help.

“The health service is under pressure and it can take a long time for people to access professional help.

“Mental health first aiders act as a friendly face for however long it takes before people can access professional help.

“It will be the fourth emergency service – it’s going to be increasingly important to have those skills.”

The pair say employers in particular can benefit from investing in training members of staff, with better staff retention and productivity. The courses are RQF and Ofqual accredited and not only include mental health first aid, but traditional first aid and safeguarding too.

Marcus said: “Our courses are good value for employers as they can help with staff retention and productivity. Level 1 is £150 and level 2 is £250. Level 2 takes a day and level 3 two days. They give you confidence to