“17 million working days are lost due to stress, anxiety, or depression every year in Great Britain.”
- Health & Safety Executive (HSE), October 2022
It’s a staggering statistic, but perhaps an unsurprising one, bearing in mind mental health is integral to overall wellbeing. And whilst there are many different elements to everybody’s life, the workplace can have a significant impact on mental health, as the numbers demonstrate.
In recent years (and especially since the start of the pandemic), there’s a growing recognition of the responsibility of employers to do their bit to tackle mental health issues in the workplace. Appointing a mental health ally – or a mental health first aider, as they’re often known – is a compelling way to get proactive.
Whilst they aren’t qualified therapists, the benefits of having a mental health ally in the workplace are many and varied. They’re:
- Trained to offer support, guidance and signposting to professional services
- A first port of call for employees who need help with mental health issues
- A change enabler for the elimination of stigma surrounding mental health issues, resulting in a more supportive workplace culture where employees feel comfortable contributing to narratives around mental health
Sound good? That’s because it is! So, how do you get started once you’ve identified a suitable and willing volunteer?
Supporting a Mental Health Ally for Boosted Workplace Mental Wellness
Supporting your mental health ally begins simply with facilitating their training. This empowers them with the know-how and tools to:
- Identify any signs of poor mental health
- Provide support and advice to colleagues
- Refer people for appropriate professional support
In addition, your mental health ally acts as a catalyst for promoting a culture of openness and support where mental health is valued, making it easier for employees to seek help when they need it.
In contemporary workplaces, a mental health ally is a low effort high-impact step towards a happier and healthier workforce, which is a massive box tick for employees and the business as a whole.
At Stress Matters, there are places available on our Mental Health First Aid England accredited courses from May – November 2023. Better still, we’re offering places at the reduced price £297 + VAT per head. They won’t be around for long. So, book here to avoid disappointment.
