Mental health in the workplace has become one of the most talked-about issues in modern business, and for good reason. With mental health challenges such as stress, depression, and anxiety affecting millions of workers globally, businesses are starting to realise their role in supporting employee well-being. The pandemic, economic changes, and increasing workplace demands have brought the need for mental health awareness into sharper focus. Workplace mental health training is emerging as one of the most impactful ways for employers to create a supportive environment, improve team cohesion, and drive business success.
In the UK, poor mental health costs employers £56 billion annually, according to Deloitte’s Mental Health and Employers report. But this is not just a financial issue—it is a people issue. Equipping teams with mental health training does not just address productivity; it also ensures employees feel valued, cared for, and enabled to support one another.
If you manage a team or lead an organisation, introducing mental health training could be the most transformative decision you make this year. In this article, we will explore the reasons why mental health training is crucial, the benefits it brings to your organisation, and how it creates more engaged, compassionate, and resilient workplaces.
The Growing Importance of Mental Health in the Workplace
Mental Health Challenges Are Widespread
Mental health issues are growing, with 1 in 6 workers in the UK currently experiencing a common mental health problem like anxiety or depression. Employees struggling with their mental well-being can feel isolated, disengaged, and overwhelmed, impacting their personal lives and professional performance.
Despite more conversations around mental health, many employees still lack the support or resources they need, with a significant stigma lingering in certain industries or workplaces. By providing mental health training, organisations can break down these barriers and empower employees to seek and offer help when it matters most.
The Costs of Ignoring Mental Health
Failure to address mental health in your workplace can result in several tangible and intangible consequences, including:
- Increased Absenteeism: In 2022, mental health-related absences accounted for 15.4 million working days lost in the UK alone (HSE).
- Presenteeism: Employees may come to work despite feeling unwell, but deliver lower-quality output due to a lack of focus or engagement.
- Staff Turnover: A workplace that neglects mental health risks losing valuable talent to competitors who demonstrate care and understanding.
- Team Morale: Failing to provide adequate support can lead to a toxic work culture where employees feel unsupported or disengaged.
In contrast, employers who invest in mental health not only see reductions in costs but also build healthier, more productive teams.
What is Mental Health Training?
Mental health training equips employees, managers, and leaders with the knowledge and skills to understand, identify, and manage mental health challenges in the workplace. It often includes:
- Awareness: Teaching employees to recognise early signs of mental ill health in themselves and others.
- Communication Strategies: Training on how to have open, empathetic conversations without judgment.
- Stigma Reduction: Addressing misconceptions about mental health to foster an inclusive, understanding workplace.
- Action: Providing resources and actionable solutions, like when and how employees should seek professional help.
The training might also cover crisis management, such as how to deal with suicidal thoughts or extreme stress, and teach preventative mental health practices, such as workplace mindfulness or resilience-building exercises.
Why Mental Health Training is a Game-Changer
1. Breaks the Stigma Around Mental Health
Despite increasing awareness, mental health stigma persists in the workplace. Employees may worry that admitting struggles could affect promotions, job security, or their relationships with colleagues. This fear often prevents employees from seeking help.
How Mental Health Training Helps:
- Educates teams about mental health myths and facts, creating a stigma-free environment.
- Normalises mental health conversations so employees feel comfortable voicing struggles.
- Promotes empathy and understanding among colleagues, leading to more collaborative and supportive teams.
2. Improves Workplace Relationships
A well-functioning team relies on trust, collaboration, and open communication. Mental health challenges—whether observed or hidden—can increase workplace tensions and hinder progress. With training, employees are better equipped to understand and support each other during tough times.
Training Benefits:
- Equips team members to identify stress triggers and respond in compassionate ways.
- Improves conflict-resolution skills, creating a more harmonious and productive work environment.
- Encourages inclusive leadership that listens, adapts, and supports team members equally.
3. Boosts Employee Engagement and Productivity
Employee well-being directly impacts workplace engagement and output. When mental health concerns are not acknowledged or addressed, they can lead to burnout, low morale, and absenteeism.
How Mental Health Training Tackles This:
- Empowers employees to seek help early, preventing burnout and longer-term absences.
- Encourages proactive, solution-based approaches to workplace stress.
- Builds resilience among employees, enabling them to approach challenges with confidence.
4. Supports Leaders in Managing Teams
Managers and senior leaders often lack the skills necessary to address mental health concerns effectively. Without training, they may unintentionally exacerbate problems, such as by dismissing employee concerns or applying excessive pressure.
Core Management Training Benefits:
- Helps managers develop emotional intelligence to better understand team dynamics.
- Provides tools for having difficult conversations around mental health.
- Educates leaders on fostering inclusive workplaces that balance performance demands with empathy.
5. Enhances Recruitment, Retention, and Employer Branding
In today’s competitive job market, employees increasingly prioritise well-being and work-life balance when choosing employers. Mental health training demonstrates that your organisation genuinely values its people, giving you an edge in both recruitment and retention.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, 86% of UK employees believe employers have a responsibility to support mental health. Businesses that embrace this responsibility build stronger loyalty and establish themselves as compassionate, forward-thinking employers.
How to Introduce Mental Health Training into Your Workplace
Step 1: Assess Your Current Workplace Culture
Before implementing mental health training, take stock of your organisation’s current attitudes towards well-being:
- Do employees feel comfortable discussing mental health?
- Are managers skilled in spotting and addressing concerns?
- Do policies align with a culture of open support?
Tip: Conduct anonymous surveys or host focus groups to gather honest feedback about your team’s current well-being.
Step 2: Choose the Right Type of Training
Workplace mental health training is not one-size-fits-all. Tailor your approach to suit your organisation’s needs. Some key types include:
- General Awareness Training: For all employees to learn about mental health basics and support strategies.
- Manager-Specific Training: Focused on equipping leaders with skills to assist team members and model emotionally intelligent leadership.
- Specialised Training: For high-pressure industries or teams where crises, such as intense workloads or trauma, are more prevalent.
Step 3: Partner with Experts
To ensure training is impactful, partner with professionals or organisations that specialise in workplace well-being. Certified bodies such as Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England offer high-quality, evidence-based programmes designed for businesses.
Step 4: Embed Mental Health into Policies
Training is most effective when supported by broader policies. Create an action plan that includes:
- Enhanced Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) for confidential counselling.
- Flexible working arrangements to balance workload and personal well-being.
- Ongoing check-ins to encourage open dialogue and ensure sustained support.
Step 5: Measure the Impact
Track key metrics to evaluate how mental health training benefits your organisation. This could include:
- Reduced absenteeism and presenteeism.
- Increased participation in well-being initiatives.
- Improved employee engagement and satisfaction survey results.
Case Study: Mental Health Training in Action
Company Example: Marks & Spencer
Leading UK retailer Marks & Spencer recognised the importance of mental health after noticing increased stress among employees during the pandemic. The company implemented a comprehensive mental health training programme for its managers, helping them spot early signs of stress in their teams and approach conversations with compassion.
As a result, Marks & Spencer saw not only a boost in employee satisfaction scores but also a reduction in long-term absences due to stress and anxiety. Employees reported feeling more valued and understood, creating a strong, resilient workplace culture.
Final Thoughts
Mental health training is no longer a “nice-to-have” – it is a necessity in today’s workplace. By addressing the mental well-being of employees, organisations can cultivate more resilient, productive, and harmonious teams. Leaders and HR professionals who make the decision to invest in training this year will reap benefits far beyond improved productivity—they will create workplaces where people genuinely feel supported, able to thrive both professionally and personally.
Ultimately, mental health training is not just the right thing to do; it’s also one of the most strategic, forward-thinking moves your organisation can make. Are you ready to take the next step and transform workplace mental health into a real pillar of your culture?
