Here are our thoughts on the proactive role mental health champions can play and how to set them up for success.
Create clarity – be clear about what the role involves. Create an internal advert and role profile. Reassure them that they’re not supposed to be therapists or psychiatrists. They’ll need to be caring and compassionate individuals who can help to proactively promote mental well-being, provide non-judgemental confidential support and signpost employees in the right direction if further help is required.
Passionate people – as a volunteer, they’ll be taking on the role alongside their ‘day job’. Ask employees to apply and choose people that are passionate about supporting you to develop and promote well-being initiatives and willing to give their time (with manager support).
Driving performance – set out in writing what’s expected of them, how they need to prioritise their own work to avoid concerns about their performance, and signpost them to support available for them personally too. To find out how to access the template letter confirming an appointment to a mental health champion role, click here.
Internal profile – when launching the role and introducing your mental health champions, ensure everyone is clear on the support offered and how contact can be made. Be clear on the confidentiality of discussions and the role the mental health champions take.
Give them a voice – create a platform for your mental health champions to provide you with feedback on workplace mental well-being to help shape and influence your well-being strategy and initiatives.
Give them the tools – whilst they don’t need to be medical experts, it’s crucial they have an ability to identify a colleague in need of expert support and a good understanding of how to approach the situation should it arise.
