In our ‘Inspiring small businesses’ series, we share and celebrate great stories from small business owners who started and run their own business. By bringing you closer to these inspiring businesses we hope that you find motivation, tips, and ideas for building yours. For this week’s interview, we spoke to Katie Russell, part owner and Marketing Director of Mind Health Solutions, a business that offers mental health first aid training to companies and individuals across the UK. They are fully accredited by Mental Health First Aid England and offer half, 1 and 2 day training courses.

What's the story behind your business?

Our founder, Ryan Ridgway, has struggled with his own mental health since he was a child which lead him towards wanting to help and support others later in life. He decided on mental health first aid because it’s a great way to teach coping mechanisms and how to support others. A little later down the line, Lara & I joined, having both previously been on our own journey with mental health issues, to fight for mental health awareness and now we are offering training to businesses and individuals across the UK every week. Last year, our first year of trading, saw 1000 people trained which we believe is really positive for those out there who are struggling. The official statistics say that 1 in 4 people will suffer with mental health issues across the UK but it feels like that number could be much higher.

What inspired you to start your own business? 

All our directors have had their own battles with mental health issues and by setting up a business which offers training to support those that are struggling, is really where our passion lies.

What is the most difficult aspect of running your own business?

A lot of it is the behind the scenes work, Ryan and Lara could sell this course until the cows came home and my passion is sales and marketing so that’s fun for me. It’s coming from working for others where everything else is normally done for you and you have to learn from scratch - things like accounts, insurances and other day to day aspects of the business.

What is the best thing about running your own business?

FREEDOM! All three directors are incredibly passionate about mental health, having all suffered ourselves, we know how much difference the right support can make to someone who is in a dark place. We really want to push forward to banish stigma regarding mental health and to raise awareness about appropriate support and we want to be able to use our own business as a platform to do that.

To find out more about Mind Health Solutions visit their website or follow them on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.