Whilst it’s important to train and support people to administer mental health first aid – who are the people in your organisation responsible for proactively promoting and championing mental health and wellbeing?
Here are our thoughts on introducing mental health champions in your organisation.
Create clarity
Be clear about what the role involves, create an internal advert and role profile, and reassure them that they’re not supposed to be therapists or psychiatrists. Mental health champions need to be caring and compassionate individuals who can help proactively promote mental wellbeing, provide non-judgmental confidential support and sign-post 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’ so ask employees to apply and choose people who are passionate about supporting you to develop and promote mental health and wellbeing initiatives and willing to give their time. You may want to check with their manager that they’re able to give their time for the role.
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.
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 wellbeing to help shape and influence your wellbeing strategy and initiatives.
Give them tools
Whilst they don’t need to be medical experts, having the ability to identify a colleague in need of expert support and a good understanding of how to approach a situation is crucial.
