Are you and your employees prepared to help a colleague experiencing mental health challenges?
In recent years, a staggering 40% of employees reported that their job has had a negative impact on their mental health, and 75% of employees indicated that stigma was present in their workplace. These numbers continue to rise and can have a direct impact on team members’ overall wellbeing, as well as engagement, productivity and retention in the workplace.
Mental health challenges don’t just hurt individuals — they drain energy, focus and connection across your team. Now more than ever, it’s essential to create a thriving workforce with healthier and more engaged employees.
That’s where Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) at Work comes in. MHFA at Work is scalable, people-first education that helps employees feel better, perform better and stick around longer.
Why Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid takes the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health. It provides an action plan that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental health or substance use-related challenge or crisis.
- It’s informed by research. More than 91 peer-reviewed studies demonstrate that MHFA training increases mental health literacy, confidence in helping others and empathy toward individuals in distress.
- It’s trusted by leading companies. Whether cobranded or customized, in person or online, for frontlines or boardrooms, MHFA has been taught to millions.
- It’s developed and delivered by experts. MHFA is created and taught by quality-assured mental health experts.
Our latest MHFA at Work courses are designed to empower every level of your organization, fostering a workplace culture of support, compassion and wellbeing. It’s available in industry-specific versions for restaurants, retail and manufacturing, and there are learning options for every employee. Let’s take a behind-the-scenes tour of the four course options, each one tailored to drive positive change in your workplace.
Explore the Suite of MHFA at Work Courses
Intro
Deliver basic mental health education to all employees with MHFA at Work Intro. This 2-hour, self-paced online course introduces employees to workplace wellbeing practices and teaches them how to understand and reduce stigma in the workplace. It’s scalable to any number of employees and can be accessed anywhere at any time.
Certification
One of the best ways to create a workplace culture of wellbeing is to give your staff a way to step up and make a difference in the lives of their peers. MHFA at Work Certification is a 4-hour course that helps employees, managers and HR professionals practice the skills they need to recognize and help coworkers who may be experiencing mental health or substance use challenges. Participants leave the course as Mental Health First Aiders.
Champion
Create a network of peer support with MHFA at Work Champion. This Instructor-led, 1.5-hour workshop teaches employees in a designated network to be mental health champions, providing support to other employees as the company’s go-to resource. Employees will develop an action plan for carrying out their role as a MHFA at Work Champion.
Transform
Develop your wellbeing strategy with MHFA at Work Transform. This is a 2-hour workshop where leaders and HR professionals learn the impact of mental health and substance use challenges on their employees, review their organization’s current state and goals for mental wellbeing, and develop a mental wellbeing organizational plan.
These courses build on each other, offering a powerful education on mental health and substance use. At the core of our courses is a commitment to pave the way for a workplace where mental health is not just a priority, but a cornerstone of success.
Why Mental Health First Aid at Work?
- Flexible and Scalable
- Choose the education option that fits your organization’s size, goals and culture — from self-paced modules to dedicated workshops. Train as many employees as you need, on your own timeline.
- Backed by Experts
- Aside from the self-paced Intro course, every training is led by experienced trainers. You’ll have a partner who understands both mental wellbeing and the realities of your workplace.
- Turnkey Implementation
- We handle the logistics. You focus on your people. We’ll collaborate with your team to efficiently deliver training across departments, locations or shifts with minimal disruption.
After it was introduced at Xylem Inc. in 2019, MHFA at Work training became integral throughout the company. It was initially aimed at raising mental health awareness and support, but its significance soared in the wake of the pandemic:
“This training has become more and more important during and post-pandemic. It has especially helped people leaders, human resources and environmental health safety and security colleagues understand mental health illnesses on a deeper level and has given them the confidence and courage to handle any related situations that could potentially arise in the workplace. Unfortunately, these cases are on the rise, and it is important that leaders and colleagues across the company know how to address them with the utmost empathy and human care. This training makes this possible.”
— Brooke Castillo, Xylem Inc.
With Mental Health First Aid at Work, we provide your employees with research-backed mental health and substance use education. We teach them how to recognize the signs and know what to do when a colleague needs help, as well as how to take care of their own mental wellbeing.
With our guidance, you’ll build a workplace mental health education strategy that scales with your needs, from individual trainings to a comprehensive program that fosters an organizational culture where mental wellbeing is prioritized, supported and sustained.
Build a resilient, engaged workforce with Mental Health First Aid at Work. Because when your people thrive, your business follows.
If you’re an employer who’s ready to bring MHFA at Work to your workplace, fill out the interest form on this page and we’ll connect with you. If you’re an employee who would like to get your boss’s buy-in, we can help. Use this easily adapted email template, filled with everything you need to help get them on board.
