For Mental Health Awareness Week, we are re-sharing our good practice approach for workplaces which Laura Evans also outlined in our webinar on Mental Health in Employment:
- Train
- Raise Awareness
- Open Up Communication
- Listen
- Signpost Appropriately
From an employment perspective, contact details where people can access support should be clearly displayed in workplaces; remotely via intranet and on screens (the company desktop wallpaper is a good place); and, in any policies or guidance documents relating to health and wellbeing or taking time off work. Ensure you do due diligence and the services you refer to are properly qualified and trained.
Mental Health First Aiders are a really good resource to help hold an initial conversation and signpost to support. We also provide line manager and Mental Health First Aid training to organisations.
Opening channels of communication and just letting people know you are a safe space for them to open up without judgement is really important.
Signposting someone to the most appropriate support is critical – even with experience and training in this area, if you’re not a qualified mental health practitioner then offering interventions could do more harm than good.
12th May, 2025