If I knew then: Bianca Jones

Bianca Jones is a qualified Mental Health First Aid England instructor at EDP Training and travels across the UK delivering various wellbeing and mental health training to businesses to improve mental health throughout organisations.

She is passionate about adult learning and utilising accelerated learning techniques to aid training and has worked with companies such as Airbus, Aardman Animations and We the Curious.

Bianca’s own lived experience of depression and anxiety helps her to deliver authentic training, which she is passionate about and it also highlights the importance of prevention, self-help and empowering people to take control of their own wellbeing.

How did you start out in your career?

I got my first taste of training when I worked in retail and I knew that this was what I wanted to do in the future, although I was never sure of the subject matter. In 2016 I experienced depression and at my worst, I had thoughts of not wanting to be here anymore.

During my recovery I decided I wanted to help people learn about mental health and wellbeing. I wanted to empower them to influence their mental health and take control before it declines. I went on to study with the CIPD in learning and development and I started training with MHFA England as a first aid instructor.

If you knew then what you knew now, what mistakes would you have avoided?

Networking is a powerful tool but I don’t think you need to spend thousands of pounds to do it. When I first started, I invested a lot into stands at business events but I actually did more networking when I was a guest!

What advice would you give yourself when starting out?

I would have taken care of myself more. Naturally, I go at 100 miles an hour with my work so it can take its toll and become incredibly stressful as well as anxiety inducing. It helps to set clear boundaries where possible for work life balance and pencil in, ‘me time’, which is really important.

Biana delivering training: EDP.

If you knew then what you know now, would you still be sitting there?

Yes, 100 per cent. I think everything I have learned over the past five years on my journey both personally and professionally is a blessing. Every mistake, loss and every failure was an opportunity to reflect, rebuild and come back stronger! I believe failure is what makes us – not success.

What do you know now that you didn’t know then?

I started my company from nothing. I started with leaflets, cold calling, talking to HR people, exhibitions, social media, free taster sessions and all sorts of other efforts.

I’ve always been very driven, which is probably why I got to the semi-finals of candidates for the 2018 Apprentice series. I don’t regret starting that way as it built resilience and grit but I see the support that is out there now for people that want to start a business or that are already in a small business and it’s overwhelmingly positive. It’s important to tap into as much support and help at the beginning as possible.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received so far?

It’s more of a motto I live my life by and it’s served me pretty well over the years.

“If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” I think we spend so much time skirting around things or regretting things we didn’t do or say. Life is too short and I have found out along my journey people actually will do what they can if it’s in their power to help – so be cheeky, push through that discomfort ask for what you need. What’s the worst that can happen! They may say no but they may say yes!

Bianca Jones was a panelist for a Bristol24/7 online event on burnout and mental health in the workplace.

What is your business highlight?

During the lockdown, I designed ‘Race Ahead’, our new course for workplaces, professionals and individuals which focuses on race, racism and its effects on mental health. It is a well-known fact now that Black and Brown people are disproportionately affected by poor mental health and have continuous negative experiences when accessing support during and post-treatment due to systemic racism.

My goal with this course is that by educating workplaces (managers and employees), we can fast track to eventually improve the mental health outcomes of Black and Brown people and reduce their experiences of racism in the workplace and elsewhere.

What is your business low point?

During the first lockdown in March 2020, I literally saw my diary turn red with cancellations! I just saw all the courses for the next three months disappear, I had cancellation after cancellation. I had companies changing payment terms to survive and paying in instalments, which then had a knock-on effect on me.

There was very little income over the next six months as there was also an invisible rebuilding time that I don’t think enough people talk about. While getting back to normal there was still a lot of reluctance and uncertainty – the last thing businesses were doing was spending money amid the uncertainty.

I also had a 3-year old at home, which also had an impact on my personal health and wellbeing as a single mother.

What keeps you awake?

I give myself permission to have a worry list! Before bed I empty everything out on paper, then I will write three things I am grateful for in my 1-minute gratitude journal and usually have a sleep story using the calm app. I have no problems sleeping as over the years with the work I do around wellbeing sleep is a paramount part of brain health.

What’s changed from when you started out?

Since I started out and since lockdown, more businesses have made mental health a priority. Mental health first aid training is growing in importance. There is a real strategy behind it now with big and small businesses allocating budgets instead of one-offs.

I also think that with younger generations growing up and entering the workforce, they are demanding and expecting more from their workplaces as well. There really isn’t any room for businesses to ignore the facts anymore and those that do will be left behind. The pandemic really fast-tracked mental health awareness as well as the importance of anti-racism and allyship. Both are the main focuses of my work at EDP Training.

What’s still on your to-do list?

We have had a bumpy two years of intermittent lockdown, isolations and staying at home. I have overdue collaborating and networking to do and connections to make. I’ve always said it’s going to take more than one person, one company or one organisation to impact the mental health and wellbeing of the nation.

Working in synergy is the most effective way we are going to make a change. Each person educated or working towards change is a step closer to our goal of ending the stigma and hopefully eradicating racism.

What’s next for you in business and personally?

We are looking to team up and collaborate more with our local community in Bristol to help the city with its anti-racism strategy.

If you want to create change, start where you are. I think Bristol is a great place to be for the work we are doing. We are continuing to make partnerships nationally around our anti-racism and mental health workshop, as well as delivering our anti-racism course to companies privately and have open courses for anybody that wants to learn as well.

We are really looking to get more counsellors, psychologists and mental health professionals educated on the importance of anti-racism as representation in the mental health sector is low and are hoping that with this, Black and Brown people will be treated more fairly when accessing treatment.

Many People of Colour have spoken out about the discrimination in the mental health fields and I think there are many blind spots for mental health professionals revolving race, racism and its effects on mental health that they don’t fully understand. It would therefore be really great to get more of them on board with our training.

To learn more about EDP Training, visit: www.edptraining.co.uk

Main photo: Biana Jones

Read more: If I Knew Then: Jenny Foster

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