"Mental Health First Aid" Best Practice at the Hesse Ministry of Justice
As a support person for people with severe disabilities at the Hesse State Justice Department, one thing is particularly important to Marc-Eric Peter: he wants to be able to support his colleagues in difficult situations as an equal—especially when emotional distress is involved. That is why he completed the “Mental Health First Aid” training program to become a mental health first responder.
Mental health has been a focus of his for many years, both professionally and personally. When Marc-Eric Peter read about the “Mental Health First Aid” training in the pme newsletter, he knew right away that it was the right fit. He signed up immediately.
In a 12-hour live online training session plus four hours of e-learning, participants work in small groups to learn how to recognize mental health issues early on, better understand the development of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders, and provide empathetic and appropriate support to affected colleagues.
Support from colleagues plays a particularly important role here—because not everyone feels comfortable bringing their concerns directly to their manager. This makes it all the more valuable when colleagues are approachable as equals.
The “Mental Health First Aid” training program for community leaders was developed specifically for people like him. Through this program, the pme Familienservice trains working professionals to become first responders for mental health emergencies.
Cara Isabella Limburger (left) and Petra Dinkelacker (right) lead the "Mental Health First Aid" training course.
The participants will be guided by the two pme seminar leaders, Petra Dinkelacker and Cara Isabella Limburger.
Health scientist Petra Dinkelacker explains the training program's approach as follows:
"Our goal is to help participants feel confident in supporting colleagues who are struggling. They need to know: How do I listen, and how can I provide concrete help? Just as with first aid after an accident, the aim is to provide initial support in mental health emergencies—without trying to take on the role of a psychologist. What’s important is making a sound initial assessment and then referring the person to appropriate support services."
There is a special focus on the participants’ self-care.Life coach Cara Isabella Limburger adds:
"Those who help others must also be able to take care of themselves. That is why the training covers not only communication techniques but also strategies for maintaining one's own mental health."
A plus for the role of confidant
For Marc-Eric Peter, the combination of theoretical expertise, practical examples, and a focus on self-care is a perfect fit for his role as the primary point of contact for employees experiencing emotional distress or health issues. “This training is a major asset to my work,” he says.
He was impressed not only by the content but also by the way it was delivered: the combination of live input, group discussion, and supplementary e-learning elements. “In any case, I would recommend [the training] if only because of the two excellent instructors and the breadth of the material covered.”
From the workshop to everyday life: three colleagues supported
The value of the training becomes particularly clear to Marc-Eric Peter in situations where he was able to immediately apply what he had learned and gain new confidence:
“So far, I’ve been able to help three colleagues—one of whom had a situation similar to a case we discussed in the seminar.”
What was practiced in the safe environment of the training—listening, sorting, and working together to identify next steps—has directly translated into concrete support for colleagues.
Marc-Eric Peter thus exemplifies the goal of “Mental Health First Aid”: to empower employees so that they can support one another as colleagues in their day-to-day work—in an accessible way and on an equal footing.
