Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England has today launched best practice guidance for employers on how to implement mental health first aid in the workplace, following the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) recent enhancement of its first aid guidance to clarify the existing need to consider mental health alongside physical health when undertaking a ‘needs assessment’.

MHFA England chief executive, Simon Blake OBE commented: “Our new guidance provides clear information to support employers in implementing mental health first aid training in the workplace – ensuring that their first aid provision can effectively protect both the mental and physical health of their employees.

“Mental health first aid training should always be one part of a ‘whole organisation’ approach to mental health – helping thousands of employers to implement the core standards for a mentally healthy workplace, as set out in the government’s ‘Thriving at Work’ review, including improving mental health awareness and encouraging conversation about the support available.”

Developed in consultation with PwC, Royal Mail, Thames Water and Three UK, the new guidance provides information on strategically embedding MHFA England training. It includes advice on how to recruit, promote and support staff trained in mental health first aid as part of a whole organisation approach to workplace mental health.

According to the HSE, 15.4 million working days are lost due to mental ill health every year.

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