1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem each year. But do your employees know how to reach out for support?
Mental Health First Aid training should be compulsory in every workplace environment. Creating a positive culture of support, empathy, and treating others with compassion – as well as growing awareness.
Why MHFA training is important to us?
As a business that supports mental health and encourages a positive & wellbeing-focused environment – our partner and MHFA-trained practitioner, Christine Clark, has been training our management teams in Mental Health First Aid.
We wanted to take that next step and train up our managers and leaders in MHFA. It aids them to be able to help employees in need, as well as prepare and prevent pre-existing mental illnesses within the team to become overwhelming.
How can your business encourage openness around mental health?
Mental health first aid should be as important as physical first aid. Knowing how to support your team and colleagues in their mental health struggles, or preventing people feeling overwhelmed and under supported.
Training is all about equipping your people with the tools to help themselves, and in turn, their team.
Encourage openness around mental health
- Introducing mental health training – MHFA link
- Create a mental health support strategy/policy
- Ensure a good work/life balance
- And much more…
Early intervention is key, and consistently keeping track of how your teams are doing. Adapting and learning from practices that the company has tried before… What works? What doesn’t? Is everyone happy?
The importance of mental health training in the workplace
- Signs spotted early
- Lowers social isolation
- Personal mental health improves
- Return of investment
- Normalises conversation of mental health
If one of your team members doesn’t seem like themselves, what do you do? What is the right way to go about it?
MHFA training gives you the confidence and knowledge to approach these often difficult situations and scenarios.
Mental health first aid action plan:
- Approach, assess and assist with any crisis
- Listen non-judgmentally
- Give support and information
- Encourage appropriate professional help
- Encourage other supports
Read all about Mental Health First Aid England: https://mhfaengland.org/
Helpful resources (these are just some available):
- Crisis support: 999/111 (Emergency services/out of hours doctors)
- Crisis & emotional support: 116 123 (Samaritans)
- Mental health information: 0300 123 3393 (Mind Infoline)
- Anxiety: www.anxietyuk.org.uk
- Bereavement: www.bereavementadvice.org
- Depression: www.depressionuk.org
