Leeds Mindful Employer Network launches free Mentally Healthy Workplace Toolkit
A free online toolkit has been launched to help employers take practical, evidence-informed action to create mentally healthy workplaces.
Developed by Leeds Mindful Employer Network, the Mentally Healthy Workplace Toolkit is designed for organisations of every size, sector and starting point. Rather than expecting employers to follow one fixed journey, it provides a series of practical tasks and actions that can be explored in whichever order best meets their needs.
Whether you are a senior leader, HR professional, manager, wellbeing lead, Mental Health First Aider or employee champion, the toolkit can help you understand where your organisation is now and identify realistic ways to move forward.
Practical support for every workplace
The toolkit begins with a simple benchmarking exercise to help employers reflect on their current approach and recognise both existing strengths and opportunities for improvement.
It then brings together evidence-informed guidance, practical resources and proven actions across three key areas:
Actions are tailored to different organisation sizes, helping employers find suggestions that are relevant and achievable for their workplace. The toolkit can be used to shape a new approach, strengthen existing activity or support longer-term planning.
Employer Spotlights bring the toolkit to life through real examples of how Leeds employers have responded to workplace challenges and turned good practice into meaningful action.
Developed with employers, for employers
The toolkit was officially launched at an event at Holy Trinity Boar Lane, attended by representatives from nearly 40 local employers.
The toolkit was developed in partnership with National Mindful Employer. Mark Poole, Mindful Employer Lead, undertook an analysis of existing evidence and employer insight, helping to identify the key themes and shape the toolkit’s structure and content. This partnership has helped ensure that the actions employers find within the toolkit are grounded in evidence about what works to support mental health in the workplace.
The content was also shaped by valuable input from Network members, including representatives from Abraham Moon & Sons, a Guiseley-based manufacturer of premium cloth for apparel and interiors, and Everyday Something, a Horsforth-based creative design and branding agency. Their contributions helped ensure that the toolkit reflects the experiences, priorities and practical realities of local employers.
Attendees had an opportunity to explore the toolkit and consider how it could support their own organisations.
Leigh Staunton, Project Lead for Leeds Mindful Employer Network, said:
“We developed the toolkit in response to growing employer demand, increasing awareness of workplace mental health and feedback from Network members.
“It gives employers a practical way to act on what they learn through the Network and move from good intentions towards meaningful and sustainable change.
“Employers can access practical resources, events, peer learning, real-world examples and support to strengthen their approach to workplace mental health – all for free. Our ambition is to reach more employers and help organisations make changes that genuinely benefit both their people and their business.”
The toolkit was developed by Few and Far®, a Leeds-based B Corp digital agency whose founders are themselves members of Leeds Mindful Employer Network.
Supporting a healthier and more inclusive city for Leeds workers
Leeds Mindful Employer Network is commissioned and supported by Leeds City Council Public Health and delivered by Leeds Mind in partnership with local employers.
It is the only free network of its kind in the UK and now connects more than 820 members from over 500 organisations across Leeds, representing different sizes, sectors and industries.
Councillor Emma Flint, Leeds City Council’s executive member for equality, adults and health, said:
“We commission the Leeds Mindful Employer Network in line with Leeds’ ambitions as a healthy and inclusive city, because mentally healthy workplaces benefit both employees and organisations.
“Good mental health improves engagement, performance and retention while reducing absence. The Mentally Healthy Workplace Toolkit provides practical support for organisations of all sizes and sectors at every stage of their workplace wellbeing journey.”
Explore the toolkit
Start exploring the free Mentally Healthy Workplace Toolkit and choose the tasks and actions that are most relevant to your organisation.
You can also learn more about Leeds Mindful Employer Network and join for free.