SPRING 2020 MENTAL HEALTH Mind matters Mental health first aiders can help maintain your employees wellbeing and save your business money in the process Mental ill health costs UK employers 34.9bn each year, according to the Centre for Mental Health. Quality mental health training, underpinned by a robust wellbeing strategy, gives people the tools to keep themselves healthy and support each other While being supportive of staff welfare may be a legal and moral obligation, research suggests improving UK workplace mental health management could reduce employers losses attributed to mental illness by 30 per cent. Collectively, this would save 8bn a year.1 A recent Health and Safety Executive report revealed that the occupation groups with the highest incidence of mental health-related illness are: professional; associate professional and technical; and sales and customer service. However, work-related stress, depression or anxiety can affect people in all occupations. It can help to have a mental health first aider in the workplace a go-to person for anyone suffering from a mental health issue, who guides the person in distress to the help they need. They also have the knowledge to spot someone who is developing a mental-health issue, and can intervene before it escalates. A mental health first aider is not qualified to give therapy to someone who may need it, but they can support a person and make their life at work easier. An important part of their role is assessing the individual; if someone is moving towards self-harm or suicide, the situation will need to be escalated. However, the organisation and first aider must be clear about when and how they use the information in their possession. Just like physical health or disciplinary issues, each discussion is confidential and peoples information must be protected. Mental Health First Aid England offers training courses to help people recognise the symptoms of mental health, and reduce the stigma surrounding it. Quality mental health training, underpinned by a robust wellbeing strategy, gives people the tools to keep themselves healthy and support each other. It can also: nB uild employees confidence to have open conversations about mental health n E ncourage people to access support early when needed, for a faster recovery n E mpower people with a long-term mental health issue or disability to thrive in work nP romote a mentally healthy environment, stopping preventable issues and allowing people to thrive and become more productive n Embed a long-term positive culture across the whole organisation, where employees recognise their mental and physical health are supported as equal parts of the whole person Credit: John Harvey, Environmental Health officer Image: iStock / Ponomariova_Maria To find out how to get training for your organisation, visit the MHFA England website. For further information, please contact your local Trading Standards Service