Overview of Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid goes beyond simply providing support during a crisis. Compulsory mental health first aid in every workplace is now a step closer to becoming a legal requirement.
Like physical first aid, the aims are similar:
- Preserve life
- Provide comfort
- Promote recovery
In addition, Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs) are trained to recognise the early warning signs of emerging mental ill-health, develop confidence in having supportive and proactive conversations, and guide individuals towards appropriate professional support.
Their role is to listen rather than advise and to act as an initial point of contact. It is about being present and offering support in the moment. Many people who train in this role find it highly rewarding and gain valuable skills they can use to support others.
During their training journey, MHFAs develop skills such as non-judgemental listening and empathy. These abilities can transfer into many other areas of work and daily life.
Many people experience mental ill health but do not know where to turn for support. They may fear asking for help. MHFAs represent another important step organisations can take towards creating a more open and supportive culture.
The Promotion of Wellness
Mental Health First Aiders are trained to understand what promotes positive wellbeing and how proactive support can improve outcomes. This knowledge makes them well placed to contribute towards an organisation’s wellbeing strategy.
MHFAs can:
- Lead wellbeing initiatives
- Open communication channels
- Keep positive wellbeing messages consistent
- Educate others on the importance of self-care
Signposting is a key part of the MHFA role and can involve both internal and external support pathways.
Internally, this may include an organisation’s Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). EAPs are often under-utilised despite offering valuable support, educational resources and crisis assistance. They are an important employee wellbeing resource that should be promoted more effectively.
The Health and Safety Executive highlights that employers have a duty of care regarding both the physical and psychological safety of employees.
Employers may also have legal responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 in relation to making reasonable adjustments for mental health conditions. Understanding how different mental health challenges affect people day-to-day can make this process easier and more effective.
Further Benefits
Research by Yarker et al. (2020) identified key factors that influence how likely employees are to thrive when returning to work following mental ill health absence:
- Receiving non-judgemental support
- Access to health support and advice outside work
- Being able to connect with relevant charities and support organisations
MHFA training incorporates all of these areas and can therefore be particularly valuable for line managers and HR professionals. Having a diverse team of Mental Health First Aiders also helps improve accessibility and support across an organisation.
Find Out More
If you would like a no-obligation conversation to understand how Mental Health First Aid could work within your organisation, we would love to hear from you.