What to include in workplace mental health training?

Sarah Carter, Onebright’s Head of Account Management

Many businesses offer mental health training to their employees. Do you know how to make this training effective and meaningful? Mental health training is crucial for your company’s success and happiness.

What is the purpose of workplace mental health education?

Mental health training in the workplace should create a culture that encourages employees to discuss mental health issues before they become more serious. Training that is effective can reduce the stigma around mental health and empower employees to make informed decisions. It also helps to reduce the risk of discrimination. It is important to prioritize prevention over reaction, so that teams and individuals have the tools they need to manage their mental health proactively.

Mental health training

Top-down training is one of the most efficient training models. Senior leadership and management are trained first. Senior leaders who champion mental health initiatives are not only viewed as role models, but they also help to spread awareness and understanding within the organization. Well-trained managers allow employees to seek out support from people they can trust who will guide them towards the appropriate resources.

Despite its importance, the CCLA recently found that only 44% UK companies provide training to line managers on how to support employees who have mental health problems. This is down from 50% the year before (2023).

A second approach that is highly beneficial is to appoint mental health champions in the organization. These individuals are either paid or volunteer and serve as advocates to raise awareness about mental health, challenge stigma, and improve collective knowledge. Mental health champions are not HR staff, but they work with them to encourage wellbeing, open communication, and make employees feel supported. They help integrate mental health conversations into the workplace by being present in different departments.

Organisation-wide, comprehensive training programs are especially beneficial in addressing challenges that affect all employees. Topics like stress management, resilience and tackling unhelpful thought patterns can help employees develop practical skills for navigating workplace pressures. These large-scale sessions are particularly useful for new hires as part of the induction process. They provide them with vital knowledge right away.

What should mental health training include?

What are the most important topics to cover in mental health training? What are the most important things you can learn?

1. 1. Your first step in training should be to provide basic information on mental health. It is important to share knowledge about the most common conditions that affect mental health in working populations, such as anxiety, depression and stress.
   2. Identify the signs within ourselves and in our team. Recognizing the signs will help to prevent the problem from worsening. Preventing workplace mental illness is the core of workplace training. By spotting early signs, employees and managers are able to intervene before a problem worsens.

• Employees need to be aware of factors that affect mental health. These include work-life balance and personal circumstances. Understanding these elements can help individuals maintain their wellbeing by taking proactive measures.

1. Start a conversation that is positive: Promoting positive culture and removing stigma around mental health will not only encourage a workforce speak more openly about their struggles, but it will also help individuals be more understanding towards others. It’s crucial that people understand the differences in mental health experiences and those of others. It is also important to take care of yourself. Training can help you reflect on your own life.
2. Access to external support – Despite mental health resources being available in many organizations, an astonishing number of employees are unaware of their existence. While 75% of organizations claim to provide mental health support, research shows that only a third UK workers are aware of how to access this service. To close this gap, mental health training in the workplace should outline all available resources. This includes Employee Assistance Programmes for confidential counseling, Private Medical Insurance, or other therapy options. Signposting external charities and supportlines such as Mind and Samaritans will also ensure that employees have access beyond the workplace. Businesses can empower their employees by incorporating this information into their training. This will reduce the risk of crisis and improve overall wellbeing.

It is important to customize mental health training to meet the needs of your employees. Mental health audits help companies identify key areas for concern and create training programmes that are most effective. Organisations can align their training with their specific challenges and goals by adopting a holistic, strategic approach to mental health in the workplace.

Companies can create a supportive and healthy environment for future generations by investing in mental health training that is both meaningful and effective.

The original version of this article 5 Things to Cover in Your Workplace Mental Health Training appeared first on Human Resources News.