Make mental health awareness and understanding a priority
Suggested Actions
Cover how to notice changes, start a supportive conversation, listen without diagnosing and direct someone towards appropriate help.
Include mental health within induction and ongoing manager development, alongside related responsibilities such as workload, absence and performance.
Use team conversations, short resources and reminders between formal training sessions so knowledge is reinforced and remains visible.
Set learning objectives, decide which roles need which level of knowledge and evaluate whether participants feel able to apply what they learned.
Review language, stories and routine communications for opportunities to challenge stereotypes and show that seeking support is acceptable.
Schedule proportionate refreshers and use feedback or recurring issues to decide which knowledge and skills need reinforcing.
Use reputable information that explains warning signs, how to have a direct and compassionate conversation and where urgent help can be found.
Match learning to people’s responsibilities and provide clear organisational procedures for raising concerns and responding to immediate risk.
Resources & Downloads
Having a mentally healthy workforce can bring so many benefits to your organisation. Check out our resources on how to take care of your staff and look after their mental health at work.
When you're living with a mental health problem, or supporting someone who is, having access to the right information is vital. Choose one of the options below to find out more.
Affinity's mission is to improve the working lives of all. Through research, consultancy and professional development, they help organisations create healthier, more sustainable work that supports people and performance.
Mental health issues can affect one in four people at some point in their lives. They are a major cause of long-term absence from work.
Your employees are your organisation’s greatest asset.
The work in this report has revealed that the UK is facing a mental health challenge at work that is much larger than we had thought.
Improve your suicide awareness by getting well-auditied data and information.
Most adults spend about a third of their time at work, so it makes sense that issues in the workplace have a significant impact on mental health.
Check out Action For Happinness, a movement focused on helping people create a happier world, with a culture that prioritises happiness and kindness.
In many ways, mental health is just like physical health: everybody has it and we need to take care of it.
Improve your Mental Health literacy with this handy list of key subjects.
Our first suicide awareness training course was introduced in 2017. We have since gone on to create more training courses. Explore the pages below to find out more about our training courses.
It’s good practice to develop a training plan as part of your wellbeing strategy. The best approach is to pick and choose appropriate levels of training for different managers and team members rather than to roll out one type of training to all staff.
Living/Human Libraries are a great way to tackle stigma and support diversity and inclusion in your workplace.
The Toolkit
Engaging with your employees to increase their awareness of mental health in the workplace is a priority.
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TaskHave a clear plan for mental health across your workplace
Ensure employers establish an inclusive, actionable mental health strategy.
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TaskEstablish fair and inclusive policies and procedures
This action ensures workplace policies are legally compliant, inclusive, and fair.
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TaskDemonstrate your commitment to mental health at work
This action embeds mental health into an organisation’s core identity and leadership agenda.
Help your employees to understand their role in positive mental wellbeing. Help build confidence in your team and reduce stigma.
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TaskProtect people from harm at work
This action proactively safeguards employees by mitigating workplace hazards and misconduct.
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TaskCreate a safe and supportive environment that protects mental health.
This action fosters an open, respectful, and confidential workplace culture.
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TaskSupport flexible ways of working
This action empowers businesses to accommodate the diverse life stages and unexpected needs of their workforce by offering adaptable hours, locations, and transition plans.
Implement a solid approach to prevent bullying & discrimination and use sustainable methods to support employees.
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TaskSupport physical activity for good mental health
This action champions the vital link between movement and mental wellbeing by integrating physical activity directly into the working day.
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TaskSupport self-care for good mental health
This action empowers employees to actively manage their wellbeing by embedding and normalising self-care practices within the working day.
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TaskProvide a variety of mental health support options
This action ensures that employees have immediate access to a diverse ecosystem of mental health resources tailored to their individual preferences and needs.
Get Involved
The Leeds Mindful Employer Network brings local employers together to champion positive mental health at work. The Network is unique to Leeds, putting the city at the forefront of workplace mental health and wellbeing.
Becoming a Mindful Employer opens your business and staff up to a bunch of benefits. From quarterly peer support events to learn and newsletters and bulletins to keep you informed to local training, tools and resources.