About Our Founder
Paul is the founder and lead instructor of Lean On Me Training. He’s an experienced trainer and an accredited MHFA Instructor.
Following successful careers in IT, banking, consultancy and training, Paul formed Lean on Me to use his own lived experience of mental health issues to provide a powerful context to the mental health first aid course devised by MHFA England.
When leading his training sessions, Paul strives to create a safe, yet challenging environment in which to explore the sensitive subject of Mental Health. Backed up personal experience and a deep knowledge of the subject, Paul delivers engaging, inclusive sessions which leave trainees with practical skills and a greater understanding of MHFA.
In 2020, Paul successfully completed the only licensed MHFA Instructor training programme in England, accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the mental health equivalent of a physical first aid course. Instructor Members, such as Paul, are continually quality assured using robust assessment and evaluation measures.
“Paul delivered this sensitive programme with great skill and humility. His knowledge of the subject was outstanding. His ability to balance his behavioural style to include appropriate humour, empathy and direction enabled even the most challenging subjects and issues to be discussed in an environment of safety and confidentiality. Michael, MHFA Trainee 2021
About Lean On Me
Paul Cooper founded Lean On Me Training to promote mental health awareness and education throughout corporate and social environments. Lean On Me is on a mission to promote mental health awareness and positive support in businesses and within the general community and to educate those who wish to support others in quality first line intervention.
We’re doing this by providing the most informative and engaging training on the challenging subjects of mental health. Our trainers are selected for their experience in providing first line support and for their background in high quality training delivery.
Paul is driven by his first-hand experiences with mental health through his career. He suffered with deep depression and associated mental illnesses throughout his career, but did not recognise or know how to deal with what he was facing. He openly talks about his journey to recovery through his dark days to bring to life the process of applying mental health first aid in a live environment.
Lean On Me has delivered online courses since 2020 and has had hundreds of delegates successfully achieve their accreditation. We also provide consultancy to businesses who have been motivated to instigate wellbeing programmes within the workplace and who wish to actively support valuable employees with a myriad of mental health issues.
Lean on is the go-to company for mental health first aid training and consultancy.
Not only do we deliver quality training online and in classrooms, but we also help companies instigate a ‘care in the workplace’ mental health program.
We are also one of the few mental health first aid companies that offer ‘post-course’ support to your first aiders, giving them a vital listening ear for those challenges that they face at the
workplace or at home.
Our trainers and associates have several things in common
- We are all first-class instructors with at least 10 years of providing education into businesses and to individuals.
- We have all ‘lived experience’ of mental health issues. We know what it is like to go through anxiety, depression and severe episodes of ‘dark places’ – and we are happy to share our experiences with our delegates. That way, they can better prepare for delivering mental health first aid in the workplace.
- Our trainers are all volunteers with various mental health charities (e.g. Samaritans), so their knowledge and experience of mental health first aid is in-depth and relevant
- Our own experiences have given us a passion for promoting mental health awareness, teaching others how to recognize mental ill-health and provide early intervention.
Post-course support
Lean On Me Training provides ongoing support services to all our corporate clients, these include:
- Provision of the MHFA England ‘Mental Health First Aid Support app’. This is a user-friendly mobile app that gives Mental Health First Aiders resources, conversation-logging, signposting, 24/7 text support. It also provides data-driven insights to allow you to under organization-wide wellbeing issues and trends, to develop and track the impact of your mental health and wellbeing strategy.
- A monthly facilitated online workshop for all mental health first aiders to discuss issues and experiences. This helps develop a first aider community and support network.
- Telephone support for all mental health first aiders who need independent, confidential, and supportive assistance to help with any matter arising from their role.
- A monthly newsletter on relevant and interesting mental health matters within the UK.
- Access to a professional counsellor who is a member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists on an ad hoc and emergency basis (optional service)
Post-course support is available to any company, no matter who trained the mental health first aiders. Price for this service is based on number of mental health first aiders being supported.
Greater support for those in greater need
We fully appreciate that sometimes a mental health first aider can struggle to get someone they are concerned about to seek appropriate professional help. With so many signposting options available, it can be difficult to know what route is the most suitable.
Lean On Me is proud to partner with Forest Counselling to provide professional psychotherapy support to both mental health first aiders and company employees. Sessions are delivered online or by telephone.
And if you are a company …
Lean On Me Training is proud to be partnering with The Little Survey Company, recognising that the best start for a well-being programme in a company is understanding the views of its employees and what challenges it is facing. This is a key element in getting mental health awareness into your business.
Great content and passionately led
Great content and passionately led by Paul – sharing his own experiences was heartbreaking, insightful and authentic – and above all inspiring – Thank you Paul.
Feeling more knowledgeable and confident to be that first aid for people, guiding and supporting them to get professional help.
Proud to be part of the revolution that gives mental health the platform that it deserves and breaks down the taboos and stigma that it does not.
Excellent Course
Would highly recommend. Pauls’ ability to bring together a group of individuals (majority of whom have never met) and have them engage and collaborate with each other on hypothetical situations and at the same time provide an open and safe environment, where individuals feel comfortable and secure in sharing their own experiences, is a testament to him. He is professional, passionate and empathetic in his approach and his delivery of the MHFA course is seamless.
Great course expertly delivered by Paul
The course content was informative and the pre work details well Informed.
Paul’s presenting skills and interaction with the group were faultless.
I would definitely enrol again.
Informative & powerful training course
A very informative & powerful training course, brought to life by the insight and empathy of the trainer. The training approach was very engaging & interactive – combining the course material with real life examples and an opportunity to ‘practice’ mental health first aid in a safe environment. Highly recommend.
Paul’s delivery of the MHFA course was first class.
Paul’s delivery of the MHFA course was first class. Much of the subject matter involved challenging and sensitive topics, which Paul conveyed in a highly knowledgeable and empathetic manner. His ability to enable the learners to address and discuss the topics was done so in a very cognizant and approachable way; allowing for depth and understanding of the issues raised. I came away from the course with a far greater knowledge and understanding of mental health issues. It really is a life saving course and I would highly recommend Paul to anyone wanting to acquire the skills necessary to deal with the complexities of mental health.
Excellent training session
Excellent training session, with plenty of real life examples. Some of the content is quite challenging, however the trainer makes sure everybody is fine and presents the course in such a way it never gets boring neither depressing
Interesting, Informative and Practical
Thanks so much, a really interesting, informative and practical course
Excellent course and tutor
The mental health first aider course I recently did was excellently run and presented by Paul Cooper, the course itself was unbelievably informative hard hitting and useful beyond belief I am so glad and proud of myself and the group I attended with for expanding the awareness
Exceptional
Paul is an exceptional trainer with the right level of detail, patience and caring. It was a great session and I have already recommended it to several others. Paul is also on hand as I drive the MH agenda through our Company which is proving invaluable.
‘Peace of Mind’
Earlier this year I was invited to take up a new role in a company based abroad.
Whilst familiar with most requirements of the job and with a significant amount of experience in man management ( line management / mentor etc.) I felt comfortable with the role. There was however an element of counselling involved for which I have less formal experience. I was also aware of the growing cases of mental health throughout the work place and as such was keen to learn more on the subject.
Despite very limited time to learn, I still desired a course that could not only provide me with a comprehensive overview of the subject but with a detailed insight into various aspects of mental health from a first aiders point of view.
Enter ‘Lean On Me Training Limited’
The two day training course was delivered on-line and supported by an excellent Course book and Work book with valuable pre-course reading and feedback exercises set for each candidate.
There were eight candidates on the course which provided an excellent number for break out sessions and contributions throughout each day.
Orchestrating events was a qualified mental health instructor who not only was clearly familiar with every aspect of the course he was delivering, but whose manner of approach, timing and inclusion was exceptional throughout the two days.
More poignant perhaps was his willingness at times to share his personal experiences relating to sensitive subjects covered on the course, which served to really provide me and my fellow students with an emotional first hand verbal account of some some of the delicate issues encountered in addition to excellent supporting videos and written articles provided in the programme.
This course is not for the feint hearted and understandably, at times the content hits home hard.
However, as an insightful introduction and first aid companion to anyone involved, concerned or interested in the subject of Mental Health, I would highly recommend it.
Absolutely fantastic training days
Absolutely fantastic training days, so informative and a really good way to learn about such an important subject. Paul was a great trainer and provided us with the tools and confidence to help others.
Skill and humility combined to provide a great experience.
Paul delivered this sensitive programme with great skill and humility. His knowledge of the subject was outstanding. His ability to balance his behavioural style to include appropriate humour, empathy and direction enabled even the most challenging subjects and issues to be discussed in an environment of safety and confidentiality. I am looking forward to the follow up review session.
Paul was a fantastic trainer
Paul was a fantastic trainer and I found the tel day training informative and engaging. Paul was very professional and passionate about the topics we covered. I’d highly recommend his training, I feel better equipped to have conversations and provide support to myself and others as a mental health first aider.
Great course
Great course. Excellent tutor, providing insight, encouragement, support and even humour in such a serious subject. We covered a broad range of mental health areas in enough depth to make me feel confident about my knowledge, and were taught why, how, where, when and why to intervene if suspecting someone is suffering mental ill health. Highly recommended.
Excellent course content
Excellent course content, taught by very knowledgeable tutors.
Paul is an amazing instructor
Paul is an amazing instructor, coach and inspirational leader. The Mental Health First Aid course is a real game changer, very powerful and incredibly useful – would recommend!
I spent some really valuable time with…
I spent some really valuable time with Paul of LeanOnMe Training in my pursuit of a Mental Health First Aider qualification.
The training was well balanced, informative, and put the learner into some hypothetical situations which really makes you assess how to treat people and situations empathetically and in a non judgemental way..
I was delighted with the new set of listening skills I took away from the course, i would highly recommend to any individual or business looking to upskill a team.
A real eye opener
A real eye opener, difficult and emotional at times, not for the faint hearted, but if you want to feel better equipped to handle Mental Health issues and support those in need of help then these guys certainly deliver!
Excellent course.
Paul is an absolutely first class…
Paul is an absolutely first class trainer and knows his subject intimately.
I would highly recommend Paul and Lean On Me training without any hesitation whatsoever
Powerful and insightful training
Powerful and insightful training, delivered effectively and appropriately. I highly recommend this service provider.
Although training had to be carried out…
Although training had to be carried out online due to COVID, the overall quality and knowledgeability of our trainer was top notch.
Great course!
Paul is very talented and is great at educating about the importance of mental health, and how we can do our part in identifying and supporting at-risk individuals.
I attended this course as part of a company-wide mental health initiative.