There’s a persistent workplace myth that mental health care and productivity are opposites. If we spend too much time focusing on our wellbeing, the myth goes, we won’t have as much time to actually do our work. That myth is just one of many barriers to employee wellbeing.
We brought together representatives from three organizations — kate spade New York, Kaiser Permanente, and the Lendlease Foundation — to find out how they use Mental Health First Aid to transform workplace wellbeing.
Kaiser Permanente: A Culture of Mental Health Care
Heidi Darrah of Kaiser Permanente works to dispel the myth of productivity and mental health imbalance. Mental health care doesn’t necessarily have to be a big block out of the day, she says. Instead, workplaces can think about mental health care like the everyday routines you might do at the gym — mental fitness.
Mental health initiatives support both business outcomes and employee wellbeing. Kaiser Permanente has trained thousands of employees in MHFA and created a “Mindful Hub” where volunteers lead daily mindfulness and educational activities. The organization also uses MHFA to support peer networks and normalize conversations around mental health, especially in remote work environments.
For a healthcare-based organization — like Kaiser Permanente — Darrah says that practicing holistic care for employees is vital. You have to put your money where your mouth is, she said, to create a culture of care.
“Workplaces that promote good mental health and support individuals who are maybe battling a mental illness or mental health conditions actually lead to decreased absenteeism and increased productivity. It really makes good business sense.”
Heidi Darrah
kate spade New York: Advocacy and Authenticity
As Senior Director of Social Impact for kate spade New York, Taryn Bird is passionate about making change. The company’s commitment to mental health advocacy extends into and beyond its workplace culture, starting with using MHFA to address how we talk about mental health.
“A really important part of doing this work from an employee perspective is socializing the language [around mental health] to be very warm and very inviting. I give a lot of credit to MHFA for equipping us and our teams with the language to be able to have that conversation.”
Taryn Bird
Bird says managers and people leaders especially need to be ready to have conversations about mental health. Managers, she says, have a huge impact on their employee’s lives, and working with them day-to-day brings opportunities to connect with them as people. Just one conversation can do a lot of good, she says, if managers are equipped with the language of gratitude and care.
“What a beautiful opportunity to see how you can bring your purpose into the world to positively impact somebody’s life,” she said.
Lendlease Foundation: Safety with Mental Health
Lendlease, a construction and real estate company, has a variety of workplaces from the office to the construction site. For Fernando Llamas, Wellbeing Manager for the Americas with the Lendlease Foundation, that means advocating for psychological safety alongside physical safety.
“We want to make sure that everyone is showing up to work and is present for the work that they are performing,” Llamas said. “It’s about implementing internal processes that actually make employees feel like they are a part of how they are showing up to work.”
As part of that ‘showing up,’ Llamas and his team created ‘goal minimum safety requirements’ that include mental wellbeing. Using MHFA, he says, helps ensure employees are present and supported — not just protected by hard hats.
Across all jobsites, Lendlease uses MHFA to create a network of support, making sure every employee has someone nearby who can recognize the signs of distress and guide colleagues to help.
Using Mental Health First Aid at Work
Achieving mental wellbeing is not something that can be done overnight. It’s a journey that requires ongoing commitment, buy-in, and a willingness to change.
“Progress is halted by perfectionism,” Bird said. “No impact is too small.”
Mental Health First Aid at Work helps organizations like kate spade New York, Kaiser Permanente, and Lendlease Foundation prioritize employee mental wellbeing, creating happier, safer and more productive workplaces. Mental health belongs in the workplace, and beyond.
Interested in bringing MHFA to your organization? Visit Mental Health First Aid at Work to learn more.
