The importance of mental health support in the workplace

In recognition of World Mental Health Day, Jane Bradshaw-Jones, HR Business Partner and Mental Health First Aider at AdviserPlus, shares her valuable insights into the critical role mental health support plays in the workplace.

As organisations around the globe reflect on the importance of mental well-being, Jane’s perspectives highlight practical steps that can help create a supportive and healthy environment for employees. Below, Jane answers key questions on how businesses can promote mental well-being.

Why is it crucial to have mental health support available in the workplace?

Jane explains, “Mental health support in the workplace shows you genuinely care about your team’s well-being. It creates an environment where people feel comfortable being their true selves. This support leads to higher attendance, lower employee turnover, and a positive company culture.

Mental health impacts everyone, and as leaders, we have a responsibility to support our colleagues. With mental illness becoming more prevalent, it’s vital to have the right resources in place. The right attitude toward supporting others can make a real difference for those who may be struggling.”

How has having mental health first aid training impacted your perspective on mental health?

Reflecting on her training, Jane shares, “I’ve always been open about what’s on my mind. I find that once I talk about it, it’s easier to work through. But I’ve come to understand that not everyone finds it easy to share. Good mental health isn’t constant, and some people don’t feel comfortable talking about what’s going on for them. I have a natural tendency to want to fix things and rescue people, so I have to work hard to avoid jumping into action and going into ‘tell’ mode.

As a Mental Health First Aider, I’ve learned to remain focused on the situation at hand and to signpost people to the relevant support rather than tell them what to do. It’s tempting to try to fix things for someone, but it’s important to resist that urge. Taking care of myself is crucial in order to be in the best possible position to help others. During my training, my Mental Health First Aider trainer said to me, “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” and that really stuck with me.”

What are some key strategies for promoting mental health awareness and support within the workplace?

According to Jane, some important strategies include:

• Create ongoing conversations: Make mental health a regular topic among colleagues.
• Foster safe spaces: Ensure honesty and confidentiality are respected.
• Check in on others: A few supportive words can make a difference.
• Encourage connections: Create opportunities for teams to interact, both in person and virtually.
• Host drop-in sessions: Provide time for employees to meet with Mental Health First Aiders or mentors.

“I strongly believe that it’s important to make mental health a daily, ongoing conversation between colleagues and teams. We need to create safe spaces where honesty is respected and valued, so that if a colleague opens up, their confidence is maintained. It’s crucial for our Mental Health First Aiders to have a safe space and a supportive network for them to debrief and seek additional support.

We should never hesitate to approach someone who doesn’t seem like themselves – a few words of support could be life-changing for them. We also need to engineer opportunities for people to connect with each other regularly, whether it’s through face-to-face meetings or a mix of online and in-person interactions due to our hybrid work practices.

Holding regular drop-in sessions with key mentors and mental health first aiders is essential, and it’s important for leaders to attend and share what they feel comfortable with. We should also be attentive to any signs of work-related stress in our teams and intervene early. Early intervention is key in supporting our colleagues’ mental well-being.” – Jane Bradshaw-Jones, HR Business Partner at AdviserPlus.

How can learning courses and training programs contribute to the effectiveness of mental health first aiders?

Jane emphasises the importance of keeping mental health support current. She said, “I just wanted to remind everyone of the importance of staying up to date with mental health support. Research and education in this area is always changing, so it’s crucial to regularly engage and train with our mental health first aiders.

With new support organisations popping up all the time, it’s important to share these resources and best practices. This allows us to anonymously share our experiences and learn from others’ approaches to similar situations. It’s really reassuring to know that others would have handled the same situations in a similar way, and it can boost the confidence of mental health first aiders.”

What role can managers and leaders play in creating a supportive workplace culture for mental health?

Jane outlines key responsibilities for leaders. “Create safe spaces for colleagues to open up about their mental health challenges without fear of judgment. All leaders have a responsibility to help remove the stigma of talking about mental health. Lead from the front – if you feel comfortable, talk about your own challenges and how you support good mental health.

Regularly promote and signpost to key organisations and internal employee assistance program details so your team are aware that there is help out there. Focus activities on wellbeing – if you have team meetings or away days, focus a part of the agenda on mental health and strategies. Signpost – don’t tell. It’s really easy to want to fix something for someone, it’s hard not to spring into action mode.”

Subscribe to our newsletter to get insights straight to your inbox.