It’s been six years since Stress Matters began helping organisations with Mental Health and Wellbeing. We’ve been fortunate to work with incredible companies and achieve remarkable results.
Yet, reflecting on this journey, there’s one profound lesson I wish every organisation knew when they first started out with MHFA training:
Don’t train MHFAs until you have a strategic plan in place.
The Common Pitfall: Training Without Direction
Many organisations focus on getting the training done and ticking a box. This allows them to say, “We have MHFAs.” They might have an EAP in place too. Great. Boxes ticked. No need to do anymore…
But the problems often continue. We’ve seen organisations still grapple with increasing absenteeism, staff turnover, and persistent productivity issues. Why? Because MHFA training, without a strategic framework, becomes a disconnected activity.
- Reliance on Individuals: You’re relying on individual MHFAs to drive cultural change without clear direction, a supporting plan, or ongoing organisational backing.
- Missed Impact: The training’s potential for proactive prevention and cultural transformation is significantly diminished.
- Burnout Risk for MHFAs: Without proper support and integration into a larger strategy, MHFAs can feel isolated or overwhelmed.
- Undemonstrated ROI: It’s impossible to prove the value of your investment without a plan for how MHFA activity contributes to broader business outcomes.
This is why a strategic plan around your Mental Health training is so important. As Laura, our founder, who loves strategy and seeing the big picture, would absolutely agree: training without a plan misses the biggest opportunity.
The Solution: A Strategic MHFA Support Programme
To ensure your MHFA training has true, measurable impact, you need a strategic plan first. This plan defines their role, integrates them into your wider wellbeing efforts, and outlines how their activity contributes to tangible business outcomes.
Key Elements of a Strategic MHFA Plan:
- Define the MHFA Role & Boundaries:
- Action: Clearly articulate what MHFAs are trained to do (listen, signpost, offer initial support) and, importantly, what they are not (counsellors, therapists, HR). This manages expectations for both MHFAs and the wider team.
- Integrate with Wider Wellbeing Strategy:
- Action: Position MHFAs as a vital component of your overall mental health and wellbeing strategy. How do they work alongside your EAP, line manager training, or wellbeing initiatives? They should be part of a layered support system.
- Ensure Consistent Visibility & Accessibility:
- Action: Develop a plan for regularly communicating who your MHFAs are, how to approach them, and the support they offer. (Refer to our “Consistent Visibility: A Simple Technique to Boost MHFA Engagement Today” guide).
- Provide Ongoing Support for MHFAs:
- Action: Plan for regular supervision, peer support groups, continuous professional development, and access to resources for your MHFAs. Their wellbeing is paramount for their effectiveness.
- Measure and Demonstrate Impact:
- Action: Establish clear, anonymised metrics to track MHFA activity and its correlation with broader wellbeing outcomes (e.g., changes in short-term absence, engagement scores, feedback on support culture). This helps prove ROI.
Building Your Strategic MHFA Plan: A Checklist for Impact
To make sure you’ve got all your ducks in a row when it comes to your MHFA Support Programme, consider these questions:
- Do your MHFAs have a clear, defined role that is understood by the wider team?
- Is there a structured plan for ongoing support and supervision for your MHFAs?
- Are MHFAs regularly re-introduced and their role communicated consistently across the organisation?
- Do you actively encourage your team to engage with MHFAs and know how to approach them?
- Are you tracking any metrics (anonymously) related to MHFA activity or impact on wellbeing?
- Is your MHFA programme integrated into your broader mental health and wellbeing strategy?
If you want to ensure your MHFA training has true impact, make a plan first. Take a look this checklist I made to make sure you’ve got all your ducks in a row when it comes to your MHFA Support Programme. Our MHFA Support Programme is designed to help you build exactly this kind of strategic framework.
