How Mental Health First Aid Can Improve Workplace Culture
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) in the Workplace
Mental health is a significant aspect of our overall wellbeing, and it impacts everything we do, including our work. Mental health problems can impact various aspects of a person’s life, including at work. A person may experience decreased motivation, increased anxiety/ worry, make mistakes, lack of concentration, even conflict within teams, in some cases. However, mangers, leaders and colleagues may not know what to do, they may not even recognise the signs of common mental ill health. Therefore, it is essential for employers to create a culture that supports mental health and provides employees with the necessary resources to manage their mental health effectively.
One such resource is Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), a training program designed to help individuals recognise and respond to signs of mental health issues in others. MHFA can improve workplace culture and employee productivity by reducing the stigma around mental health, promoting open communication, decreasing judgemental attitudes and helping employees feel supported in managing their mental health. It also provides a learning opportunity for MHFA Officers to recognise signs and symptoms of common mental illness and teaches the skills on how to effectively and empathetically have a mental health conversation.
Reducing Stigma Around Mental Illness
One of the significant barriers to managing mental health in the workplace is stigma. Stigma is an issue we see in the community, media reporting, individuals and self-stigma. Stigma refers to the negative attitudes and beliefs surrounding mental health issues, which can prevent people from seeking help and discussing their mental health openly. Stigma can also lead to discrimination and can create a toxic work environment that negatively impacts employee wellbeing. It can also lead to mismanagement, conflict in the workplace and absenteeism.
Mental Health First Aid course training can help reduce stigma by providing employees with a better understanding of mental health issues and how to support others who are experiencing them. MHFA covers various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, psychosis and substance use disorders, and helps participants learn how to recognise signs and symptoms of these conditions. While the course doesn’t teach someone how to diagnose a mental illness (let’s face it, that’s unrealistic in a 12-hour course!), it can provide you with a basic understanding of what to look out for.
Employers can create a more open and supportive workplace culture by educating employees on mental health and reducing stigma. Employees are more likely to feel comfortable discussing their mental health concerns with their colleagues and managers, if stigma is reduced, which can help them seek the support they need to manage their mental health effectively.
Promoting Open Communication:
Effective communication is essential in any workplace. However, when it comes to mental health, communication can be challenging, and people. Employees may feel uncomfortable discussing their mental health concerns with their managers or colleagues, and may feel shame or judgement by sharing their experience, which can make it challenging to provide support.
MHFA can help employees develop the skills necessary to have open and productive conversations about mental health. MHFA teaches participants how to approach someone who may be experiencing a mental health issue, how to listen actively, and how to provide support effectively. Having MHFA Officers in the workplace and ensuring staff are aware of who is trained may also assist in reducing stigma and increasing help-seeking behaviour.
By promoting open communication around mental health, employers can create a more inclusive and supportive workplace culture. Employees are more likely to feel comfortable discussing their mental health concerns with their manager if they feel like they will be appropriately supported. And managers may feel more confident and better equipped to provide the support their employees need once they have a deeper understanding of common mental illnesses.
Helping Employees Manage Their Mental Health:
Mental Health First Aid training provides information and resources on how to support someone who may be developing or living with a mental health condition. By providing employees with the resources to manage their mental health, employers may feel more supported. Employees who feel supported in managing their mental health are less likely to take time off work due to mental health issues and are more likely to be satisfied with their job. Ensuring that leaders have a solid understanding of signs, symptoms, treatment options and reasonable adjustments in the workplace all contribute to workplace cultural changes.
One key area when supporting staff who live with a mental illness is reasonable adjustments. By law, a person who lives with a mental illness and has disclosed this to their employer cannot be discriminated against and is entitled to reasonable adjustments (read more via our blog). It’s imperative that as a manager you involve the person in the decision-making on what appropriate and suitable reasonable adjustments look like for the individual - don’t assume.
Improving Employee Productivity:
A workplace culture that supports mental health can lead to increased employee productivity, no one wants to feel unsupported in the workplace. When employees feel supported and comfortable discussing their mental health concerns, they are more likely to be engaged and focused on their work.
Mental health literacy programs, such as Mental Health First Aid in the workplace can improve productivity by increasing awareness and understanding of mental health issues, reducing stigma, and promoting early intervention. These programs help employees recognise signs of mental distress (in themselves or others), seek support, and manage work-related stress, reducing absenteeism and presenteeism. They foster a supportive work environment where open communication and teamwork are encouraged, leading to higher job satisfaction and retention. This can help prevent mental health issues from escalating and negatively impacting employee productivity.
Reducing Turnover Rates:
Finally, creating a workplace culture that supports mental health can reduce turnover rates. Employees who feel supported and valued are more likely to stay with their employer long-term. Moreover, when employees feel comfortable discussing their mental health concerns, they are more likely to seek the support they need to manage their mental health effectively, which can prevent them from leaving their job due to mental health issues. It’s far cheaper for businesses to retain existing employees and provide appropriate support to individuals than it is to advertise, interview, recruit and train new staff.
