Over the last 15 years I have held a variety of leadership positions where I have been responsible for managing and supporting people and during that time I have seen first-hand just how important it is for businesses to look after their employees – not just professionally, but personally too.
Leading teams is incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with challenges and like many leaders I have experienced the pressure of balancing performance targets, business objectives, staff absence and managing poor performance and what I’ve learned over the years is that when someone isn’t performing as expected or is struggling with attendance, there is often more going on beneath the surface.
People don’t leave their personal lives at the door when they come to work. Life happens – family pressures, financial worries, health concerns, relationship breakdowns, caring responsibilities, grief, anxiety, stress – the list goes on. Sometimes these challenges can have a significant impact on how someone shows up at work and often the signs are there long before a conversation takes place.
Now, I am not for one minute suggesting that having Mental Health First Aiders in your business will solve all of these challenges – They absolutely won’t. Mental Health First Aiders are not counsellors, therapists or medical professionals however they can make a real difference.
Having trained individuals within a business who understand how to recognise when someone isn’t quite themselves, who can spot the signs that something may be wrong and who know how to approach conversations with empathy and confidence can be incredibly valuable.
Sometimes all someone needs is a safe space to talk. Someone to help identify what support is available. Sometimes they need encouragement to seek professional help and sometimes they simply need to know that someone has noticed and cares.
Mental Health First Aiders provide that first point of contact. They create opportunities for conversations that may never have happened otherwise and can help signpost individuals to the right professional support when needed.
From a business perspective, we know the impact that poor wellbeing can have. Absence levels increase, engagement drops, productivity suffers and teams can feel the strain. The financial and operational costs of sickness absence and underperformance are significant and that’s why having a proactive approach to wellbeing matters.
Creating a mechanism within your business that helps identify concerns early, supports employees before issues escalate and encourages open conversations can make a huge difference – not only to the individual but to the wider business as well.
One of the most rewarding parts of the work we do is hearing the feedback from delegates who attend our Mental Health First Aid training. Time and time again, people tell us how much more confident they feel having conversations around mental health, how empowered they are to support colleagues and how the training has positively impacted their workplace culture.
The ripple effect is often incredible – One trained individual can influence a team. A team can influence a department and a department can influence an entire organisation.
Ultimately, Mental Health First Aid training is about more than a qualification. It’s about demonstrating to your people that you care. It’s about creating a culture where employees feel supported rather than judged. It’s about building trust and encouraging conversations before individuals reach crisis point.
Most importantly, it’s about creating a psychologically safe environment where people feel able to be themselves.
Because lets face it, at the end of the day, workplaces are made up of humans and sometimes as humans we struggle. Creating a workplace where people feel seen, heard and supported isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s good leadership and good business.
Interested in investing in your team – check out our full range of Mental Health and Wellebeing Training here: First Aid and First Aid for Mental Health | Training Courses | Rizon
Do you work in, or support those in the Agriculture sector in Scotland? If so, you may be eligible for this training full funded through our partners at RSABI – read more about the fund criteria here: Mental Health First Aid Awareness Training – RSABI
