Rollout Mental Health First Aid Courses

Getting Buy-in from the Leadership Team

Mental health First Aid training has become increasingly important in the workplace. Mental Health literacy programs can encourage staff to look after their mental health and that of their colleagues. As mental health problems are common, it's crucial for employers to provide training to help employees understand signs, symptoms and effective interventions. However, getting buy-in from leadership and employees can be challenging. Especially if budget restraints are a factor. Read more about Return on Investment Here

Here are some strategies for overcoming barriers to Mental Health First Aid training in the workplace:

Understand and Highlight the Benefits of Mental Health First Aid Training in the Workplace

One of the best ways to get buy-in for mental health training is to highlight the benefits. Mental health First Aid training can help reduce stigma, improve productivity, and promote a healthy workplace culture. By emphasising the positive impact of mental health training, you can make it easier to get buy-in from leadership and employees.

Increased awareness and reduced stigma: Mental health First Aid training helps create a culture of understanding and acceptance around mental health issues. It educates employees about various mental health conditions, their symptoms, and the impact they can have on individuals. This increased awareness reduces stigma and encourages open conversations about mental health in the workplace.

Improved well-being and resilience: Mental health First Aid training equips employees with knowledge and tools to manage their own mental well-being effectively. It can teach stress reduction techniques, coping strategies, and self-care practices that contribute to overall resilience and mental well-being. Employees who are mentally healthy are more likely to be productive, engaged, and satisfied in their roles.

Enhanced productivity and performance: When employees are mentally healthy, they are better able to focus, concentrate, and make effective decisions. Mental health First Aid training can provide strategies for improving productivity, managing time effectively, and enhancing work-life balance. Investing in employees' mental health can result in increased motivation, creativity, and overall job performance.

Decreased absenteeism and presenteeism: Mental health issues can significantly impact attendance and work performance. By providing mental health training, employers can help identify early signs of distress and encourage early intervention. This can reduce absenteeism due to mental health problems and also mitigate the negative effects of presenteeism—when employees are physically present but not fully engaged or productive.

Improved employee engagement and retention: A supportive and mentally healthy work environment fosters higher employee engagement and job satisfaction. Mental health First Aid training can demonstrate an organisation's commitment to employee well-being, leading to increased loyalty and retention. When employees feel valued and supported, they are more likely to stay with the company long-term.

Better teamwork and communication: Mental health First Aid training often includes modules on communication skills, empathy, and conflict resolution. These skills are beneficial for building positive relationships, fostering teamwork, and resolving conflicts effectively. Improved communication can create a more harmonious and collaborative work environment, enhancing overall productivity and employee morale.

Legal and ethical compliance: In many countries, employers have legal obligations to provide a safe and healthy working environment, which includes mental well-being. By offering mental health training, organisations can fulfil their legal responsibilities and demonstrate a commitment to ethical practices. It can also help prevent discrimination or mistreatment based on mental health conditions.

Positive brand image: Organisations that prioritise employee mental health and well-being are often perceived as caring, compassionate, and socially responsible. This can enhance their reputation as an employer of choice, attracting top talent and improving their brand image both internally and externally.

Mental Health in he Workplace and Productivity

Provide flexible training options for Mental Health First Aid

Employees have busy schedules, and finding time for mental health training can be challenging. Employers can provide flexible training options, such as online training modules or lunch-and-learn sessions, to accommodate employees' schedules. This can help reduce barriers to participation and increase engagement. At Wellbeing Campus we provide Blended Online Mental Health First Aid options, which are a combination of eLearning (self-paced) and either face-to-face or Zoom sessions with an expert facilitator, which may suit your busy team better than two full days of training.

We also provide the option of shorter Mental Health Awareness sessions which may be useful for all staff training sessions.

Lead by example - Mental Health in the Workplace

Leadership plays a critical role in promoting mental health training in the workplace. When leaders participate in mental health training, they signal to employees that mental health is a priority. Employers can encourage leaders to participate in training and promote its importance to the organisation. Wellbeing Campus offers the Engaging Leaders program which is a 90-minute psychoeducational session aimed at engaging key leaders within organisations. Learn more about why leadership education is imperative in any organisation.

To get buy-in from employees and leadership, it's essential to demonstrate the effectiveness of mental health training. Employers can evaluate the impact of training on employee attitudes and behaviours to show its value. This can also help identify areas for improvement and ensure that training is meeting employees' needs.

Mental Health First Aid training is essential for creating a healthy workplace culture. By highlighting the benefits, addressing concerns, providing flexible training options, leading by example, and evaluating training effectiveness, employers can overcome barriers to mental health training and get buy-in from leadership and employees. With a solid commitment to mental health training, employers can promote a positive and supportive work environment for all employees.