CMC Launches New Mental Health Resources
CMC Launches New Mental Health Resources
REPORT BY VICTORIA HARRIS
Although conflict is a natural part of life and has the power to be transformative in a positive sense, it’s important to also acknowledge the potential for conflict to be destructive and in particular the impact that it can have on our mental health.
Today is World Mental Health Day and Civil Mediation Council are launching new resources to support individuals in conflict and the mediators who support them. Three videos for individuals and three for mediators, together with a list of organisations that can provide additional support, are publicly available on the CMC website.
Not many of us get to a mid-point in life without having experienced some sort of conflict. Whether in a commercial setting, in the workplace, within the wider family or in the community, conflict can trigger depression, anxiety, insomnia and physical health complaints. Knowing how to manage conflict better can make all the difference. It has been a pleasure to work with Marie Coombes, accredited Mental Health First Aid England trainer and mediator to create these resources.
The three videos for individuals cover the hidden impact of conflict on mental health, how mediation can help and, how to share a mental health diagnosis with others.
It can take courage and broad shoulders to step in to the heart of conflict belonging to others. It’s important that mediators have the confidence to effectively support their clients who are struggling with their mental health and are also able to manage rare crisis situations when they occur, whilst at the same time looking after their own wellbeing.
The three videos for mediators look at how to signpost parties for support, managing crisis situations and how to look after your own wellbeing as a mediator.
Recognising the boundaries of the role of mediator CMC have also compiled a list of national organisations who can provide specific support to individuals who would benefit from additional help.
We hope that these new resources will be useful to individuals in conflict and the mediators that seek to support them. We welcome your feedback to projects@civilmediation.org.
To develop your knowledge in this area you can find out more about Mental Health First Aid training here on the website of MHFA England.
Victoria Harris is Deputy Chief Executive at the CMC and Trustee of Mediation Hertfordshire, a community mediation organisation. Victoria gained an LLM at Kings College London before working as a solicitor specialising in employment law for 15 years and qualifying as a mediator. Victoria is an advocate for community mediation and the benefit it brings to individuals and public services. A member of the 2022 judging panel for the National Mediation Awards, Victoria now supports communications at CMC, where she also runs its Academic Forum and working groups for Peer Mediation in schools and Community Mediation.
