Providing mental health first aid in the workplace
What is mental health first aid?
Mental health first aid is:
spotting the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues
providing non-judgemental support and reassurance
guiding a person to seek professional support.
What action should I take?
Organisations should consider:
ensuring that their health and safety risk assessments consider not just physical health and risks, but also mental health and risks
managing and mitigating the risks of harm in the workplace and having ways to support people with mental health issues
treating mental health in a similar way to physical health. For example, by having as many first aiders for mental health as for physical health.
Your workplace may want to:
have qualified Mental Health First Aiders. This includes adequate mental health first aid cover for periods of absence or multiple workplace sites. View Mental Health First Aid courses
encourage all employees to maintain a healthy workplace through mental health awareness training or resources
ensure that HR policies and practices recognise the needs of those with mental health conditions. Read our advice on conducting a Mental Health Risk Assessment and creating a workplace wellbeing policy
Have a clear and well – communicated mental health wellbeing policy. Our research suggests 80% of employees weren’t sure if their company had a mental health wellbeing policy. An organisation may open itself to a claim for compensation by failing to respond appropriately to an employee with a mental health issue.
How many Mental Health First Aiders do I need?
We recommend that employers should try to have as many first aiders for mental health as first aiders for physical health.
What are the benefits of training employees to hold Mental Health First Aid certification?
Independent research and evaluation shows that taking part in a Mental Health First Aid course:
raises awareness of mental illnesses,
encourages early intervention to aid recovery,
increases confidence in dealing with mental illnesses
reduces stigma around mental health issues.
In the workplace, there is still a great deal of ignorance around mental health issues. Many people are uncertain about how to recognise mental illness, and unsure about how to react when faced with it. The might also unwittingly exhibit stigmatising behaviours and attitudes. This means that those in need of mental health help and support do not receive it.
By becoming more informed and aware, managers and employees will be able to more easily spot the signs and symptoms of mental health issues and provide the right support.
Someone with poor mental health may not realise it. Even if they do, they may be reluctant to seek help, or might not know where to turn for care. For an employee experiencing a mental health issue, your organisation’s informed and supportive response is likely to lead to a much more beneficial outcome.
Reference:
https://www.sja.org.uk/course-information/guidance-and-help/mental-health-resources/workplace-mental-health-first-aid-training-guide/