Have you ever heard of mental health first aid in the workplace?
If you and those around you have enjoyed good mental health, these concepts might be unfamiliar.
I was introduced to these ideas when I completed a course on mental well-being in the workplace.
All my PDFs are available below for download:
- Create your own wellness action plan
- Mental health first aiders in the workplace
- 10 characteristics of positive communication
- Organisational strategies to promote wellbeing
The course underscored the importance of having a proactive mental health plan for myself and those around me, whether teammates and direct reports, or friends and family.
Although I typically write about product development and user experience, I firmly believe these plans can be greatly beneficial in the realm of mental health and make for a more uplifting, supportive, and productive work environment. User-centred design and empathy are interestingly at the core of both fields. Just as we prioritise user needs in our professional lives, we must also acknowledge people’s needs and foster a positive workplace culture.
If you are wondering what does an organisational mental health strategy comprise? Who should be involved? Everyone is the short answer! Please see my detailed PDF below which you are welcome to share.
Planning is essential because mental health fluctuations can occur unexpectedly, often due to factors beyond our control. When we find ourselves in a low state, taking proactive steps becomes significantly more challenging. This impacts the individual, those around them, and the organisation. For this reason, a personal plan alongside an organisational strategy work well in combination.
To support this, I am sharing all the materials I created during the course. I hope these resources prove useful, whether for personal reflection, to support someone else, or to launch a new mental health initiative in your workplace.
Let’s encourage a culture where mental well-being is prioritised and everyone has access to the tools they need to thrive.
Create your own wellness action plan
The essence of a mental health plan is to reflect on what makes you feel good during periods of stability. Consider your exercise routines, sleep patterns, social activities, hobbies, and the people who uplift you. Recognising how you feel when your habits begin to falter is crucial as well. Create your own or support someone else.
Here are some prompts to get you started.
Mental health first aiders in the workplace
A lot of first aid is about being prepared, knowing what to look for, how to start a conversation and what resources are available to point people to when the need arises.
Learn more about what a mental first aider is and what it means for you and your workplace below.
10 characteristics of positive communication
This person-centred approach considers ten aspects to positive communication. These are empathy, independence, trust, boundaries, flexibility, open communication, interactions, supportive, growth. Find out more about what these mean below.
Organisational strategies to promote wellbeing
If you’re wondering who should be involved in promoting wellbeing in the workplace and why, read on.
