The Intermediary – March 2026 - Flipbook - Page 93
B RO K E R B U S I N E S S
Opinion
into action
courses and spoke about the value
it delivers.
“It was a privilege to be on the
very first Mortgage Industry Mental
Health Charter Mental Health First
Aid course with an amazing group of
people from our industry,” she said.
“The course was challenging at times
given the nature of the subject, but so
worthwhile and massively insightful.”
She also praised the structure and
delivery of the training, adding: “I
can’t speak highly enough of both the
trainer and the quality of the course.
“It’s so well thought out and
delivered and it really does equip
people to deliver that ‘first aid’ while
understanding where the boundaries
are and when to hand off to a
professional.”
That last point is crucial. Mental
Health First Aiders are not there to
replace professional support. Their
role is to create a bridge – ensuring
someone who may be struggling
doesn’t feel alone and knows where to
turn for help.
A cultural shift
One of the ambitions behind the
Mortgage Industry Mental Health
Charter is to see Mental Health
First Aiders embedded across firms
throughout the sector. Over time,
this creates a network of people
who feel confident enough to start
conversations and support colleagues
when it maers most.
In an industry that prides itself on
relationships, that kind of support
network could be transformative.
Ultimately, improving mental
health across the mortgage sector
isn’t about grand gestures or one-off
initiatives. It’s about making small but
meaningful changes that help people
feel supported every day.
Training more Mental Health First
Aiders is one of those changes.
As Julie Patrick reflected aer
aending the course: “Helping to
broaden the conversations about
mental health and how it impacts
us is key.”
She’s absolutely right.
The mortgage industry has
already taken important steps in
opening up the conversation around
mental health.
Now the challenge – and the
opportunity – is to turn that
conversation into lasting action.
Because if we want a healthier, more
sustainable industry, we have to start
by looking aer the people who make
it work. ●
March 2026 | The Intermediary
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