Phoenix Motorcycle Training, the country’s largest rider training provider, is coaching 24 members of its staff to become Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs).
The initiative, in association with the charity Mental Health Motorbike, aims to provide a front-line emergency response to mental health needs at work and in the community. As with conventional first-aiders, mental health first-aiders aim to provide immediate support until professional medical help arrives.
The MHFAs will be based at each of Phoenix’s 22 locations, aiming to support the well-being of staff and students.
As instructors and bikers, we know that riding motorcycles helps promote good mental health
Mark Jaffe, CEO at Phoenix, said: “As the UK’s largest motorcycle training school, we can see the massive benefit to new and current riders of having access to mental health first-aiders in all of our locations. As instructors and bikers, we know that riding motorcycles helps promote good mental health. This additional training will enable us to do even more, supporting the brilliant work of Mental Health Motorbike. With it, we realise we can make a difference for riders old and new.”
Paul Oxborough from Mental Health Motorbike said: “Phoenix Motorcycle Training has invested in putting a trained MHFA in every one of their centres in case any of their trainees are struggling. These partnerships with the industry really send out a strong signal that it is OK to talk about your mental health, and we truly respect and value this strong connection – Phoenix, we thank you for helping break the stigma around mental health.”