A Message from the Editor,

Sonia Last 📝

Hibernation is a mysterious phenomenon that I’ve come to appreciate since moving back to Scotland. The alternative is migration but without wings, fins or a healthy nest egg, the art of torpor is my only alternative.

This lowered metabolic state lasts well into March, facilitated by comfort food and home entertainment but April means resurfacing by getting the sun in my eyes, cavorting through the long grass and being open to possibilities, putting me in step with the rest of the animal world.

I hope you join us by unfurling with practiced finesse to become your best self this summer – despite, well, everything.

Sonia

Sonia Last

Editor

🏆 Award Win: Exceptional Customer Satisfaction 2026

We have some wonderful news to share this April - MHScot has been named the winner of the Exceptional Customer Satisfaction award at the 2026 Business Awards UK Business Training and Education Awards!

This recognition means a great deal to us. At MHScot, our goal has always been to make mental health training accessible, practical, and genuinely impactful - not just in the training room, but in every interaction we have with our learners and the organisations we support. To be recognised for that care and commitment is truly humbling.

We were also thrilled to be named finalists in two further categories — Best Online Training Service Provider and Best Learning Management System — a reflection of the hard work that goes into everything we do.

None of this would be possible without you - our learners, partners, and everyone who has championed our work. Thank you for being part of the MHScot community.

Sharing the load of Workplace Wellbeing

Too often, organisations leave their entire Mental Health First Aid and Workplace Wellbeing programme to one or two capable people, but let’s be honest, this is a ‘cop-out’ that soon overwhelms key people and the veneer of a wellbeing culture soon wears thin. These committed individuals run out of steam in attempting to plug the holes and stitch up the gaps of a threadbare wellbeing initiative.

Having a core team of mental health first aiders and champions that can drive and steer an integrated wellbeing programme is vital to sustainability as organisational wellbeing is a team sport, not the task of a lone miracle worker. Sharing the load and protecting your best people who are, after all, the master keys of a thriving workforce is a profoundly astute investment.

Ready to build your team? Our Mental Health First Aid courses are available for small group bookings - perfect for 2 to 6 people, so you can start growing your wellbeing team today. Find out more here.

April – Stress Awareness Month

Promoting mental health awareness through an activity or event in your organisation will boost wellbeing and open up conversation. Stress is the biggest issue right now, so talking about it can help people in managing this growing hazard and protect them from more enduring mental health conditions.

April - is Stress Awareness Month - Bringing awareness of how we might reduce stress for ourselves and those around us. Also follow us on LinkedIn for lots of Stress Awareness Month content to inspire and educate.

Moderating your internal voice

We talk about moderating social media to protect people’s mental wellbeing but what about moderating our own internal voice?

Do we need to improve the content or turn down the volume of the negative self-talk that so many of us endure every day?

The motivational author Louise Hay says that although many of us have been criticising ourselves for years - it hasn’t worked. She suggests we try approving of ourselves instead to see what happens.

Perhaps we ought to champion ourselves a little and see if it might boost our self-worth, our confidence and ultimately our wellbeing.

Favourite Quote:

’The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another’

- William James (American psychologist/philosopher)

From all of us at MHScot, thank you for reading, sharing, and continuing to champion mental health in your workplaces and communities. Spring is a season of possibility... and with the right support, the right conversations, and a little compassion for ourselves and others, there's so much we can build together. Until next month, be kind to yourself.

Warm wishes,

Sonia and the MHScot Team

www.mentalhealthscot.land