Testimonials
– Sue Borges, RVP
“First of all, it was very good! The first day was a bit tough for me emotionally as I think it made me really come to terms with how burnt out I’ve been getting over the past several months. The second day made me feel more hopeful and had me setting goals for my mental health that I was hoping would help. This was followed by a terrible weekend that was hijacked by panic attacks which really drove home the need to act upon what I’d learned.
After some discussion with my family and consideration about the things I learned in your course, I’ve started to make some really positive changes in my life, and am definitely feeling and seeing the difference (as is my immediate family). I am now making self-care a huge priority and have been able to head off a few impending panic attacks since then. I have also spoken with a counsellor from my EAP as you reminded us to check out what services they have available.
I still have a lot to work on, but I’m feeling a lot better thanks to hearing what I needed to hear at your training! My family is noticing the difference too.
Thanks so much and keep up the great work!”
— Anonymous
“I attended Robin’s Mental Health First Aid Course to gain knowledge and skills in handling situations of people in distress in the workplace. The course was not only illuminating and effective but also very stimulating and interactive. Robin’s passion for breaking through stigma around mental health is contagious and empowering. I recommend this course for people in every position in the workplace.”
— Gayla Walther
“Robin’s passion for educating her clients on mental health first aid can be described as authentic, informed and with loving kindness. She knows this subject matter in great depth and is an effective communicator in finding an optimal balance of empathy and scientific knowledge. I learned a lot under Robin’s leadership and left feeling confident in my abilities now infused with a holistic and pragmatic understanding of mental health.”
— Amina Sadiq
“I enrolled in the Mental Health First Aid Health and Safety Workshop because I work with adults wherein the majority lives with mental illness in different capacities. Although I know we are not able to counsel them, like many of our students think, I wanted to know how to effectively get them the help they need. I also wanted to better understand what they are living with daily.
The two-day workshop was an excellent learning experience for me. I learned many techniques that I didn’t know we were able to do such as asking a person directly if they were having suicidal thoughts or actually wanting to commit suicide. For me, I learned that the key in dealing with people who are living with mental illness is to really listen without interrupting and to not form opinions quickly. Also, the facilitator and group members helped to educate each other on how to help the stigma surrounding mental illness. Robin is an excellent facilitator. She shared her own personal experiences and put things into perspective. I felt very open to sharing my experiences and others must have felt comfortable because they shared many experiences as well. The group was very diverse in the reasons they were attending and it made for a very educational two days. I would recommend this workshop for anyone who is working or living with people who live with mental illness. It is a great workshop for the attendees to realize that it’s okay if you don’t have answers, but you have a list of resources available to recommend so a person can get the help they need.”
— Kim Jensen
“Tasked with identifying & securing meaningful Police Mental Health training for the women and men of the Owen Sound Police Service, I followed a recommendation from a member of the Police Association of Ontario and contacted Mega Health at Work’s Robin Bender.
Seeking a personalized syllabus that suited the needs of our police offices, special constables, 911 Communicators and call-takers, records bureau and by-law enforcement officers, Robin and co-facilitator Renate Donnovan were faced with quite a task. At the same time, I shopped around with other providers of similar training, searching for manageable costs, best fit for our members, meeting the needs of an unorthodox schedule, and top-notch content & delivery.
From among the eligible training providers, Mega Health @ Work was selected, and goodness, did they ever deliver! Our members’ feedback was entirely positive. Comments include:
– Excellent session. They created a very safe environment.
– Thank you for sharing your expertise. Awesome presentation.
– This is something that needs to be done more often in workplaces.
– Very personable, interesting stories, well presented.
– Great presentation. Very good messages relayed. Keep up the great work.
So impressed by Mega Health at Work, we have booked them for their “Mental Health & the Workplace – What Supervisors and Managers Need to Know” course.
I highly recommend Police Services, Fire & Emergency Services, and EMS to secure Mega Health at Work’s training. Learning about compassion fatigue, mental health crisis situations, tools and resources to promote healing, to name a few, is highly relevant and extremely valuable. We can’t wait for their next session.”
— Sergeant Ted Kitto
“Robin’s ability to connect with individuals has been remarkable. Her compassion is genuine and her ability to listen is essential in understanding mental health in the workplace. Her belief and values are ingrained in the work she does, and she has been a positive example of the work she does.”
— Marguerite Jacobson
“Tasked with identifying & securing meaningful Police Mental Health training for the women and men of the Owen Sound Police Service, I followed a recommendation from a member of the Police Association of Ontario and contacted Mega Health at Work’s Robin Bender.
Seeking a personalized syllabus that suited the needs of our police offices, special constables, 911 Communicators and call-takers, records bureau and by-law enforcement officers, Robin and co-facilitator Renate Donnovan were faced with quite a task. At the same time, I shopped around with other providers of similar training, searching for manageable costs, best fit for our members, meeting the needs of an unorthodox schedule, and top-notch content & delivery.
From among the eligible training providers, Mega Health @ Work was selected, and goodness, did they ever deliver! Our members’ feedback was entirely positive. Comments include:
– Excellent session. They created a very safe environment.
– Thank you for sharing your expertise. Awesome presentation.
– This is something that needs to be done more often in workplaces.
– Very personable, interesting stories, well presented.
– Great presentation. Very good messages relayed. Keep up the great work.
So impressed by Mega Health at Work, we have booked them for their “Mental Health & the Workplace – What Supervisors and Managers Need to Know” course.
I highly recommend Police Services, Fire & Emergency Services, and EMS to secure Mega Health at Work’s training. Learning about compassion fatigue, mental health crisis situations, tools and resources to promote healing, to name a few, is highly relevant and extremely valuable. We can’t wait for their next session.”
— Sergeant Ted Kitto
“I have known Robin and the Megahealth at work team for some time. Robin’s knowledge of workplace Mental Health issues is diverse and all encompassing. She is able to deliver a myriad of educational courses and can deliver them tailored to any specific workplace. Her past position in disability management for an emergency services organization has given her a deep understanding of issues that can befall individuals and organizations involved in emergency response services. Her ability to engage participants is excellent and attendees at courses quickly develop a trust and comfort level. I hazard to say that even the quietest person in the group will quickly be participating. Need assistance in the workplace? Any workplace will benefit from Robin’s abilities and dynamic personality.”
— Dave Ralph
“Robin is a wise beyond her years young woman who has her hand on the pulse of those in need. In addition she has a genuine concern for the welfare of those in need. She has an awareness to the mental issues of safety forces, their causes, consequences and solutions. I am honored and privileged to be associated with her.”
— John V. Kosek
“I found this course very interesting and informative. The interactive teaching method made relating real life case study discussions easier to understand from various points of view. The information given can be used every day for personal mental well being which will prepare you for mental health first aid situations assisting others.”
— Walter Potter
“Robin conducted a workshop for Lutherwood Employment Services staff called: Compassion Fatigue-It was very informative and hit home. From that presentation, I decided I wanted to be trained in Mental Health First Aid. The course was a great refresher for my current skills as well as stressed the importance of self-care. Robin stated ‘we cannot take care of others if we do not take care of ourself first’. This is very important for me to remember in my line of work. I have learned new listening skills. I was also excited for other community members to have resources that are available (help-line etc). Robin created an atmosphere for new perspective on mental health. I would highly recommend this course.”
— Jade Lawrence
“I had the pleasure of attending the “What Managers and Supervisors Need to Know About Managing Staff With Mental Health Issues workshop facilitated by Robin Bender and Renate Donnovan recently. I highly recommend this workshop to any private or public entity struggling to deal with these issues. In a three hour session Robin and Renate provided an excellent overview of signs to watch, effective communication and how to best approach an employee struggling with mental health illness/addiction. I found that the information provided was current, relevant and important for any supervisor, manager or human resource officer. This workshop is great value for the knowledge gained in my opinion.”
— Jim Thomas
“I highly recommend Robin Bender’s workshop to become Mental Health First Aid certified. With many years of experience in claim management as an HR professional, Robin has first-hand knowledge of mental health and its impact on productivity in the workforce. Although that is important to the Canadian economy, Robin’s emphasis is on what this approach means to the people whose well being benefits from the methodology endorsed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada: a non-judgmental ear, reasoned reassurance, helpful information, and professional help or intervention. I very much appreciated Robin’s ability to listen without judgment herself, and to facilitate an easy flow in teaching and discussing this often emotionally charged, sometimes difficult topic. You won’t regret the time spent learning about Mental Health First Aid, as mental health issues continue to grow in their impact on individuals, families, work teams, and employers. Thank you Robin!”
— Stephanie Clark
“I attended Robin’s Mental Health First Aid workshop on January 5&6, 2015. Robin provides a interactive stimulating workshop. She uses many multimedia’s and is able to engage the group. She shared her experiences and approaches to the group to allow them to have great “AH HA” moments. I would recommend the Mental Health First Aid Program to individuals interested in being able to provide support for family, friends, coworkers.”
– Nancy Gowan
“Robin is a valuable trainer. She demonstrated great sensitivity and knowledge around the training actions to support individuals with mental health needs. She is extremely creative and tremendous problem solver. She is perceptive, empathetic and committed to educating people on Mental Health First Aid. I highly recommend Mental Health First Aid Certification Training with Robin.”
— Kathi Haugh
“Robin taught the Mental Health First Aid course that I attended in Kitchener. What an insightful and fun way to learn about an important topic! Robin handled this adult education environment by approaching this topic with warmth, sensitivity, common sense and respect. It was a fantastic 2 days and I learned so much that I can and will use day to day; both in my personal life and my professional life. Thanks, Robin!”
— Leah Warner
“After participating inn the Mental Health First Aid course facilitated by Robin, through Mega Health at Work Inc. I must say that the value in which I received was absolutely one of the best in my 29 years of working. The course material carried the value of the cost of the course, but it was Robin’s presentation that made it worth incredibly more. Many commented on the journey from Sudbury to Kitchener (457 kms) a far distance to travel, but as I reflected on the entire course, material and presentation, I would travel twice that distance without hesitation for that same experience. I would strongly encourage anyone who is serious about making a difference with gaining knowledge and understanding to provide support to anyone, either at work or not, to take this course, through Mega Health at Work Inc. as you will quickly learn and understand how you will make a difference.
Thank you Robin, and my fellow trainees for a very worthwhile learning experience. All the best and listen to others without judgement, I’ll thank you for it!”
— John Goedhuis
“I recently attended a 2 day Mental Health first aide course taught by Robin. it was the most enlightning and informative course I have taken in many years. Robins knowledge, enthusiasm and compassion for what she does makes the course interesting, and enlightning. Cant wait to use the training tools she gave us to use in my professional and personal life. Thanks again Robin.”
— Lottie Grub
“Mental Health First Aid is a great tool for improving the effectiveness of any organization. It enables HR to manage employees with disabilities in a humane and supportive way, provide respect and assistance. Robin enhances this course with live examples, case studies, group work , and other interactive components which result in high training retention. It widens one’s experience, and provides networking opportunities.”
— Irina Arkhipova
“Robin is committed to making a difference, not only to those in emergency services, but to all industries. She is a thought leader in the area of mental health and strives to break the stigma associated with mental illness in our society. Robin is a strong advocate for the movement to create awareness and is very active in promoting her efforts to business, education and individuals in her community. Robin is not afraid to challenge the status quo, and diligently pursues her passion!. Keep up the amazing work you are doing Robin!!
— Sandy McCann
“Robin is very professional, knowledgeable and well-spoken. When presenting she incorporates the audiences learning style, seems down-to-earth, displays empathy and was able to answer questions effectively and thoroughly. I highly recommend her as an instructor and trusted adviser on mental health issues.”
— Melissa Boyd
“As a presenter of the Mental First Aid 2 day workshop, Robin quickly established a safe and relaxed environment for the group to learn and participate. Robin kept the group energized for the entire time and was very respectful of those sharing their personal and professional experiences. While at times discussing serious and difficult topics, Robin was able keep things moving along positively. Robin provided useful tips that I intend to use in my everyday interaction with family, friends and colleagues. The 2 days passed by very quickly.”
— Lynn Fisher
“We had a team of employees from CR Plastics Products attend the mental health training on March 28 and 29, 2014 which has proven to be a very beneficial tool for our employees to apply on a daily basis in our workplace. We sent our HR Manager, all 3 shift supervisors and colleagues from every shift in order to allow accessibility across our entire team. The feedback from our respondents is that they found it applicable to their personal and professional lives and together we feel that we are much better equipped to support our employees in managing mental health issues at our workplace. The principles taught in the course are very basic, but serve as an immediate reminder when directing individuals to support and applying the skill of non-judgmental listening as a vital factor to success.”
— Sandy McCann
“I attended Mental Health First Aid training in April 2014 and can confidently say it is beneficial training for absolutely anyone. Many people take First Aid & CPR Training in order to be better prepared to support themselves, their family, and their coworkers, and Mental Health First Aid is no different. It will teach you to recognize when there could be mental health issues at play and how best to support those individuals in a non-judgmental way. We have all heard about the need to reduce stigma around mental health – in order to do this we all need to learn how to practice non-judgmental listening, which is a key component of the training. The communication skills that you learn in this 2 day program will change your life both personally and professionally — if you let them. This course provides you with the tools to look at mental health situations in a calm and non-judgmental way, and teaches you easy-to-follow steps to support those individuals that need it. It is absolutely worth the time investment.”
— Michelle Watson
“I attended a Mental Health First Aid course that was being offered by Robin’s company Mega Health at Work Inc. Robin was an outstanding facilitator/instructor and brought a lot of passion and enthusiasm to the topic of mental health, and mental health awareness. It is evident that Robin is not just well versed in the material, she also has a genuine passion that I have found lacking in other training provided by other providers. I found the material covered by Robin to be very relevant to my work in human resources and the time frame of the course was long enough to learn the material without taking you out of the office for an extended period of time. Since completing the course with Robin, I would attend more of her trainings without hesitation. Her program was so successful that my organization is going to be sending the rest of the HR team for Mental Health First Aid training. I would strongly encourage any organization or individual who works closely with people to contact Robin regarding training and development opportunities.”
— Adam Chiappetta
“Robin’s Mental Health 1st Aid Course is the essential 1st step to Workplace psychological health & safety. The interactive course is brilliantly organized to uncover common stigmas and provide essential steps to assist those in need. I highly recommend this program for everyone – general public to the C suites.”
— Aaron Samanta
“I thoroughly enjoyed the Mental Health First Aid certification workshop cleverly delivered by Robin. It has been a pleasure to be aquianted with some great tools in dealing with mental health problems. I appreciated Robin’s insight as well as her persuasive and effective facilitation skills.”
— Vlad Pop
“Robin is clearly passionate about Mental Health and removing the stigma which can prevent people from seeking treatment. She is knowledgeable about the subject and did a great job in delineating what an average person can do to provide first aid vs. seeking professional help and treatments.”
— Shelley Stevenson
“Robin Bender is an awesome ambassador for Mental Health First Aid. She lead the class with passion, mixing in her experience working with others and the course material to keep the course engaging. I recommend the course, especially with Robin as instructor for all supervisors, managers, HR personnel, and anybody coming in contact with or interacting with people.”
— Mark Filo
“Workplace Safety Group was privileged to have Robin Bender present at its’ SafeWork Summit on April 9th, 2015. When presenting, Robin exudes passion for bringing awareness around the stigma of mental illness to her audiences. All workplaces can benefit from the information and experiences she shares. What Robin does best is help her audience understand that mental illness is just that, an illness, and that mental health is possible when people know how to provide support and guidance in a safe environment.”
— Carola Mittag
“Having participated in Robin’s ‘mental health first aid’ Course and followed her work for quite a while now, I highly recommend her to anyone who is seeking to either upgrade workplace mental wellness programs or who needs to develop higher awareness of mental health issues. She is kind, compassionate and cares deeply about those struggling with mental health issues. I truly believe that Robin is the best in her field and I know you will definitely be pleased should you choose to engage her services.”
— Sue Arnott
“I had the pleasure of attending Robin’s 2 day Mental Health First Aid Training. I wanted to gain knowledge and add to my toolbox skills for handling distressing situations. Robin’s course was not only informative and effective but also very thought provoking and interactive. There is no doubt that Robin has a passion for shattering the stigma around mental health. Her teaching style is genuine, down to earth and not preachy. She is open to discussion at any time throughout the course. Robin made sure that our questions were answered and she was willing to go the extra mile to make sure everyone was comfortable in the room. Her knowledge around mental health is incredible. She is an effective orator, confident and personable. She created a safe environment for everyone and ensured that we “held space” for those who needed it. I highly recommend this course for anyone that wishes to support family, friends, co-workers or anyone who suffers with mental health issues. Thank you Robin!
— Tracy Clark
“Making Wellness Contagious”