Amanda Whitlock, Founder, Total Wellbeing Matters: “I’m absolutely passionate about the fact that we need to talk more about mental health and remove any kind of stigma which still exists."
Published: September 12, 2021 | Updated: 13th September 2021
Amanda Whitlock admits starting her own business was a ‘scary step’.
Especially as it was only nine months before the first lockdown when all her work dried up.
But the mental health & wellbeing consultant and trainer put the time to good use.
Amanda, 58, said: “I retrained so that I could offer my courses online.
“Everything disappeared in the first lockdown but when the second came, well, I was ready.”
Amanda, who lives in Yetminster, began her career in banking.
She said: “It was at a time when customer care was seen as the pinnacle.
“It taught me how to interact with people, skills that have proved so useful over the years.”
After working in office management Amanda moved into the charity sector.
As Area Manager for the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) she was responsible for day-to-day operations and strategic development of the charity’s portfolio of 80 services in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.
They extended across retail, community, home-based and commercial food services.
In 2013 Amanda moved to Independent Age, the charity for older people, initially as Area Manager for Dorset and Somerset and then, for nearly three years, National Wellbeing Manager.
It was during this time that she went on a mental health first aid course and – in her words – “a lightbulb went off.”
She said: “I just knew I had to do something with mental health, perhaps with my own business.”
Amanda, a licensed mental health first aid instructor, founded Total Wellbeing Matters in June 2019.
Accredited by Mental Health First Aid England, she provides both MHFA-accredited and bespoke training.
Her clients include companies and individuals.
Amanda said: “The World Health Organisation defines mental health as ‘a state of wellbeing in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his/her community.’
“I’m absolutely passionate about the fact that we need to talk more about mental health and remove any kind of stigma which still exists.
“We also need to accept there will be days when you feel rubbish and that’s OK.”
Amanda , who has been married to Chris, a design engineer, for 32 years and has a son, aged 29, said going it alone had resulted in the occasional day “when I wake up in a cold sweat”.
But, she said: “I have no regrets and really love what I do.”
