The Imperative for Mental Health First Aid Training in Leadership Teams

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘change starts at the top’. And when it comes to building safe and secure work environments, this notion becomes vitally important.  

Employees are the ones who bear the brunt of a lack of strong, skilled leadership teams. Leaders, managers and HR teams have a duty to look after staff, and wellbeing is a crucial piece of the puzzle.  

With appointing physical first aiders being a legal requirement, more and more businesses are beginning to recognise the need for mental health support to be given the same significance – and Mental Health First Aid training is the solution. 

Here, we explore the indispensable role of MHFA training for leadership teams.  

Why is Mental Health First Aid becoming indispensable to business culture? 

Mental Health First Aid is a powerful resource that allows certain individuals to become qualified with a basic understanding of how to provide mental health support – much like physical first aiders do for physical health issues. 

Overall, it’s an incredibly reliable solution to building happier and safer work environments. Most of us would hesitate to join a business without physical first aiders, so why would a lack of mental health support be any less concerning? 

Through MHFA, individuals are trained to identify early signs of mental health issues, and how to act in response. Knowledge and education are instrumental when it comes to mental health, and mental health first aiders can ensure individuals who are struggling are guided towards the right resources. 

Appointing MHFAiders can also help prevent issues from escalating, leading to individuals needing to take time off work, or experiencing a full-blown crisis. 

Why is MHFA vital for leadership teams in particular? 

Recent research shows that 31% of employees feel uncomfortable discussing mental health with their managers, which means that employees are less likely to come forward and start that discussion. 

We’re all familiar with the culture of stigma that dictates that if someone comes forward to voice their mental health struggles, they may be out of a job. This is extremely detrimental for a business.  

By being MHFA trained, leaders can recognise the signs that someone is not okay, and step in to start those conversations. It enables that vital early intervention that can be the difference between someone recovering to their normal levels of functioning and wellbeing quickly, and someone taking extensive time off, or suffering serious mental health issues. 

It also means leadership teams can be better equipped to manage their own mental health. There are significant pressures on leaders and managers, and often the more senior someone becomes in an organisation, the less likely they are to discuss their own wellbeing, or seek support if they need it. The more informed they are, the more equipped they are to respond. 

How does MHFA equip leadership teams to handle mental health issues within staff? 

Firstly, it's about awareness. Being able to spot when someone isn't okay, when they're struggling, or just noticing when there are additional risks or stresses associated with a task, role or project.  

For example, having a leader say to their team ‘I know this project has tighter deadlines than usual and that might make some of us feel higher levels of stress, what can we do to support you?’ can go a long way to having employees feel seen, heard and supported.  

It also means when they do notice someone isn't okay, that they know how to respond. They feel empowered to have those difficult conversations, they don't worry about saying the wrong thing, and they feel confident that they can be the supportive leader they wish to be. 

Being MHFA trained doesn't mean that issues won't arise within a team, but if leaders know how to respond well, their team will have more confidence in them and the organisation itself. 

What are the short-term vs long-term benefits of implementing MHFA for leadership teams? 

Short-term benefits for leadership are greater awareness and therefore visibility of issues within their teams, which enables them to respond quicker to potential issues. It also allows them to immediately check in with their own wellbeing, and make adjustments to their lives so they are able to be the most effective and healthy version of themselves.  

In the long term, employees will feel more supported, will be more engaged and as a result more productive, creative and loyal to the organisation.  

The biggest benefit is if leaders in an organisation are MHFA trained, the culture around mental health shifts massively. It enables more people to come forward when they're struggling and to access support, and it makes the company more attractive to current and potential employees, driving talent retention and acquisition. 

For more information on MHFA training and how it can benefit your organisation, please get in touch with our team today.