Mental health and wellbeing describe our mental state – how we are feeling and how well we can cope with day-to-day life. Promoting mental health and wellbeing in the workplace is important for employees, their employers, society and the economy. This is because poor mental health impacts individuals’ overall health, their ability to work productively (if at all), their relationships with others, and societal costs related to unemployment, poor workplace productivity and health and social care.
Employers have a ‘duty of care’ to look after the health, safety and welfare of their employees (Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974), which includes not only assessing risk from hazards at work but also work related mental health issues.
Legislation for Mental Health First Aid Legislation for Mental Health First Aid provision is not yet in place. The Health and Safety Executive says: “You should consider ways to manage mental ill health in your workplace which are appropriate for your business, such as providing information or training for managers and employees, employing occupational health professionals, appointing mental health trained first aiders and implementing employee support programmes.” CPS offer a range of health checks and training packages to help create and maintain a healthy workplace.
Training is the foundation to a healthy workplace. Educating people about mental health helps to open up conversations, breaks down stigma and encourages mental health resilience. It can also ensure people are aware of how to access help, allowing for quicker recoveries and more positive outcome.
The most effective way to create a healthy working environment is to train people in mental health awareness skills at a blend of levels throughout the organisation. CPS provides a range of mental health training for your organisation’s needs. Click on a course for more information:
Ideal for: Designated staff at every level
Training Aim: Equip designated Mental Health First Aiders with skills to spot signs of a range of mental health issues and guide a person to appropriate support
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognised training course, designed to teach people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first aid basis. In the same way as learning physical first aid, MHFA teaches people how to recognise those crucial warning signs of mental ill health and feel confident to guide someone to appropriate support. Embedding MHFA training within any organisation or community also encourages people to talk more freely about mental health, reducing stigma and creating a more positive culture.
The role This two day course qualifies your employees as Mental Health First Aiders, giving them:
Ideal for: Managers
Training aim: Equip people with the skills and confidence to spot when someone on their team is struggling and to know how and when to offer support
This one day mental health awareness and skills course qualifies your employees as MHFA Champions, giving them:
Ideal for: Everyone
Training aim: Tackle stigma and empower people to access other initiatives and supports in place
This introductory four hour session raises awareness of mental health. Your employees will gain:
Ideal for: Accredited MHFA’s
Training aim: Update MHFA skills every three years
Mental Health First Aiders and MHFA Champions are encouraged to take an MHFA Refresher course if it has been up to three years since they first completed their training. Employees will:
All of our health checks are carried out by a registered healthcare professional. We offer a range of health and wellbeing checks ranging from a basic 10 minute MOT health check to a more comprehensive physical health, lifestyle and emotional wellbeing check. Whichever package you choose you will be empowering your staff by giving them the information they need to make informed lifestyle decisions, helping them to be healthier, fitter, more motivated and engaged.
Most companies providing corporate health checks do not offer screenings for depression, anxiety or stress. Given that work-related stress, depression or anxiety accounts for 44% of work-related ill health and 57% of working days lost, in 2017/18, and is the biggest cause of sickness absence in our society (Health and Safety Executive, 2018), we consider they are important screening assessments and are included in our 30 minute health and emotional wellbeing check.
For more information about our health and wellbeing checks please send an enquiry to info@connect-ps.co.uk.
* A brief intervention is a short evidence based structured conversation with the patient to initiate change in regard unhealthy or risky behaviour (e.g. smoking, alcohol consumption, diet) that seeks, in a non-confrontational way, to motivate and support the individual to think about and/or plan a change in their behaviour in order to reduce the risk/s identified. ** Patients are required to complete a comprehensive questionnaire detailing their medical history and answering questions in regard their lifestyle. *** Patients are required to complete a comprehensive questionnaire detailing their medical history and answering questions in regard their lifestyle and emotional wellbeing.
We offer a consultancy service to help you develop and implement workplace wellbeing strategies and initiatives, according to your needs. We can also provide ongoing support after the consultation and following any health checks or training provided. Support can be provided for the organisation as a whole or for individual staff members by way of coaching and therapeutic support.