Recovery from poor metal health will test you to your core. It takes strength, determination and focus you didn’t even know you possessed and the need of support from a wide range of sources. I know this because following a redundancy, an end of a relationship and the birth of my daughter in quick succession, I experienced post-natal depression and anxiety. Before this time, I had spent over 15 years working in the retail & financial services sector and I decided that I would use the knowledge and understanding I gained during this time to change direction. My passion for mental health and empowering people through learning and development has led me to where I am today. EDP is now an award winning company specialising in Mental Health and wellbeing training, we have worked with some of the largest companies in England and received outstanding feedback and built lasting relationships with clients. My own experience, training and listening to hundreds of people share their own stories of mental health has equipped me with information about the realistic and practical steps people can use to take control of their own wellbeing. Greater understanding of ones mental health can help improve the quality in people’s personal and professional lives. I am passionate about the role learning and development has to play in prevention of poor mental health and maintaining the quality of one’s mental health. Before I started my journey I had no idea how debilitating poor mental health could be, now with lived experience and networks of people committed to creating workplaces and communities that minimise the stigma attached to mental health, where people can support others and understand their own wellbeing I realise that my own health was a turning point into something more meaningful and enriching. I’m proud that my company Empower Develop People continues to grow and is the leading provider of Mental Health First Aid England Products in the south west.