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When St John Ambulance trainer Ross Comer spotted a man in distress on a bridge, he knew he couldn’t just drive past. He stopped to check on him, stayed and listened, and helped keep him safe until emergency services arrived. His story is a powerful reminder of how simply being there can make a difference.

For new St John Gibraltar volunteer Mark James, volunteering is about more than first aid. Drawing on his experiences as a parent and carer to his son Thomas, Mark reflects on mental health, the power of human connection and how the smallest acts of kindness can make a lasting difference.

Mental health is everyone’s business, and support can start with something as simple as listening. This World Mental Health Day, we’re sharing stories from across the St John family that highlight the power of connection, kindness and early support.

Together, these real experiences show how listening to people’s voices can help create meaningful change.

St John WA is taking a range of approaches to support the wellbeing of its frontline teams. From the award winning PAWS service to the comfort of therapy dogs, two initiatives are helping staff access support, build resilience and feel connected.

When a colleague came to Shaun Cardwell in distress, he knew the most important thing he could do was listen. Drawing on his Mental Health First Aid training, Shaun gave his colleague time and space to talk, encouraged them to seek professional support and continued to check in over the following weeks. His story shows how listening can be the first step towards getting help.

As World Smile Day takes place on Friday 2 October, we celebrate the Hong Kong St John Ambulance Brigade Dental Services and the dedicated volunteers providing free dental care, education and outreach support to underprivileged and special needs patients.

St John International Mother and Baby Programme has reached a major milestone, supporting 200,000 women since its launch in 2014. For more than a decade, the programme has helped mothers, babies and communities improve health outcomes through education, support and access to vital care.

Get to know Sean Blair, our Fundraising CRM Manager, and discover more about his journey into fundraising, his first few months at St John International, and how technology is shaping the future of fundraising.