The Work Couch: Mental health at work (Part 4): Mental health first aid, with Simon Blake OBE

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast series where we explore how your business can navigate today's tricky people challenges and respond to key developments in the ever-evolving world of employment law.

Trigger warning: The following page deals with themes around mental health, including suicide, severe mental health conditions and mental health in the workplace.

We are marking Mental health awareness week this month by devoting a four-part mini-series to mental health at work. In our concluding episode this week, Ellie is joined by Simon Blake OBE, Chief Executive at Mental Health First Aid England to explain the role of mental health first aid in the workplace.

We discuss:

• The purpose of mental health first aid in the workplace;
• How senior leaders play a critical role in implementing mental health first aid;
• Key preliminary steps to take before rolling out mental health first aid;
• The role of a mental health first aider and what it does not include;
• How to prepare a mental health first aider for their role and ensuring they have appropriate support; and
• The positive impact of mental health first aid at work and outside work.

You can listen to previous episodes in our mental health mini-series:

Part 1: Mental health at work: turning despair into hope, with Jonny Benjamin MBE 

Part 2: Implementing effective mental wellbeing measures, with Neil Laybourn

Part 3: Protecting your employees' digital wellbeing, with Alice Hendy MBE

* Please note these podcasts will not run on Internet Explorer

To access further support on mental health, you may wish to visit: the Samaritans, Mind, or Rethink. Or you can use the text service from Shout on 85258

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All information is correct at the time of recording.  

The Work Couch is not a substitute for legal advice.