The VGM Group’s human resources team has earned Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification.

VGM noted in a Sept. 25 news announcement that the MHFA certification “is a program of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Similar to physical First Aid and CPR, MHFA helps people assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis until professional assistance is obtained or the crisis is resolved.”

The announcement described MHFA certification as “just one more way [VGM] can help protect the well-being of VGM employee owners.”

VGM’s Chief People Officer, Sara Laures, said in the announcement, “As a 100-percent employee-owned company, we know that to take care of the company, we have to take care of each other. We all have struggles at some point in our lives. VGM is a place where people lend a helping hand. And the Mental Health First Aid certification allows us to better care for our fellow employee owners.”

The announcement added that the company offers free, confidential short-term counseling through an Employee Assistance Program, as well as Webinars on financial, physical, and mental wellness. VGM employees also have access to a free health clinic and a language learning center, which opened in June. VGM is scheduled to open an on-site child care center in November.

Kelsey Burke, VP of Human Resources at VGM, said, “My team and I want VGM employee owners to know that we are here for them. In HR, we help people through some of the most complicated situations, at times during some of the hardest moments in their lives. VGM employee owners can always come to us. Even if they’re unsure what they need, we can help provide guidance.”