The Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter (MIMHC) Foundation has announced its most ambitious programme yet, committing to train over 100 accredited Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) across the mortgage industry during 2026.
The fully funded, two-day MHFA training sessions will run regionally from February 2026, with the first four locations set to be confirmed shortly.
The initiative has been made possible through continued support from the Niall Stringer Foundation, whose sponsorship is enabling MIMHC to significantly scale its reach and impact.
TURNING POINT
Jason Berry (main picture, inset), co-founder of MIMHC and group sales director at Crystal Specialist Finance, said: “2026 marks a turning point for our industry. Awareness is important, but action changes lives.
“By training over 100 Mental Health First Aiders, we are equipping firms with the skills, confidence and early-intervention capability that genuinely protects wellbeing in the workplace.”
Rob Jupp, Brightstar Group CEO and trustee of the Niall Stringer Foundation, added: “This training is deeply personal and incredibly important.
“As both a co-founder of MIMHC and a Trustee of the Niall Stringer Foundation, I’ve seen first-hand the difference early support can make when someone is struggling.
“The investment we are making into MHFA training represents a real step forward – one that goes beyond talking about mental health and instead gives our industry the practical tools to intervene early, support compassionately, and ultimately save lives.
The Niall Stringer Foundation is proud to stand behind this initiative, and 2026 will be the year we turn collective care into collective action.”
ACTION, CONNECTION, PREVENTION
The MHFA rollout sits within a substantially strengthened programme of wellbeing initiatives for 2026, designed to support individuals, teams and businesses through evidence-based, community-led activity.
Key elements of the MIMHC 2026 Wellbeing Calendar include:
- Monthly Run Club (first Thursday) – Supporting physical wellbeing and community connection across London, Manchester and additional regions as the programme expands.
- Monthly Book Club – A curated focus on wellbeing, leadership and personal resilience.
- Walk & Talk Month (May) – A national initiative aimed at reducing isolation and strengthening peer connection across the mortgage industry.
- Leadership & Wellbeing Webinars – Covering stress management, suicide prevention, financial wellbeing, confident leadership and related themes.
- Mortgage Mates/Protection Pals & MIMHC Ambassador Programme Launch (July) – Creating structured peer support, including a “Talk to a Friend” framework for individuals facing bereavement, addiction, illness, burnout or crisis.
- Annual MIMHC Lunch (October) – The flagship World Mental Health Day event bringing the sector together.
- MIMHC Summit (November) – A forum for shared learning and sector-wide collaboration.
The programme has been shaped by findings from the 2025 MIMHC Wellbeing Survey, which received around 400 responses.
While the data showed improving sentiment around employer support and work–life balance, 22% of industry professionals still rated their mental health as “poor” or “of concern”, highlighting the need for earlier intervention and lasting cultural change.
A FOUNDATION TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY
MIMHC recently transitioned into the MIMHC Foundation Community Interest Company, a move designed to ensure that every pound raised is channelled back into education, support and sector-wide wellbeing initiatives.
The Foundation’s mission remains clear: move beyond awareness, reduce stigma and equip companies with the structures and skills needed to create healthier, more resilient workplaces.
Berry added: “This is a year of delivery. Our sector needs trained people on the ground, accessible support, and frameworks that make wellbeing a core part of how we work. MIMHC exists to serve the mortgage community as a whole, and 2026 will be our most positive, proactive and impactful year yet.
“I would urge any individual operating in our sector, who would like to undertake the MHFA training to contact me directly.”
