009 | Understanding & supporting mental health at work, with Danielle Bridge

Do you feel confident in the mental health support you have put in place at work? Or are you worried it might not be as effective as you'd like it to be?Are you feeling the strain of your increased workload and responsibilities as an HR professional since the pandemic struck?Is your own mental health suffering but you're ploughing on and hoping things will get better soon?The pandemic has ramped up concerns about mental health, with lockdowns, government advice and rules that change constantly, periods of homeschooling, job uncertainty, social distancing the petrol crisis and panic-buying in supermarkets all being examples of the extra stress we've all been exposed to. In fact, "Mental health related absence is the most common cause of long-term sickness absence in UK workplaces" CIPD, 2021This episode of the HR Coffee Time podcast is here to help; with expert advice, tips and knowledge about mental health strategies that work, shared by Danielle Bridge, CEO of ABC Life Support.Key Points From This Episode[01:30] Free access to the Power Up Your LinkedIn Profile online course[02:51] Introduction to Danielle Bridge from ABC Life Support[05:17] HR professionals are at risk of burnout[06:02] Health and safety law says to look after the health and wellbeing of your staff[07:04] Since the pandemic, there is greater awareness of the importance of supporting mental health[07:29] There is confusion about what mental health is[08:29] What does supporting mental welfare and mental wellbeing of staff look like?[09:05] Why EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs) may have a low take-up rate, despite providing an excellent service[09:52] How to increase awareness and take-up of the services offered by your organisation's EAP[10:43] What Mental Health First Aid is[15:22] The reasons that Fay became a Mental Health First Aider[19:55] The risk of suicide when making redundancies[21:13] There is a wealth of information and resources for mental health support that we can signpost people to[22:03] Using user testimonies to increase take-up of EAP services[23:18] Implementing a suicide disclosure process[24:36] How Mental Health First Aiders can help when someone is in a difficult place[26:57] What to do after training people in the organisation as Mental Health First Aiders[28:48] The importance of having a structure and plan underpinning training people in Mental Health First Aid[29:50] Identifying what your end goals are for introducing Mental Health First Aiders at work[30:53] Deciding on who should receive Mental Health First Aider training[33:23] An example of a company planning for strong mental health support effectively[34:52] Using Employee Representation Groups to help plan your mental health support strategy[38:26] The importance of consulting your employee community[40:38] Creating your own mental health toolbox to support your personal mental health[42:00] Recognising the signs that your mental health is under strain[44:13] Danielle's book recommendation; "The Daily Stoic - 366 meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living" by Ryan Holiday, Stephen Hanselman et al.Useful Links From This EpisodeReview the HR Coffee Time podcast on Apple PodcastsConnect with Fay on LinkedInFree access to the Power Up Your LinkedIn Profile courseThe Bright Sky Career Coaching websiteConnect with Danielle on LinkedInABC Life Support's websiteABC Life Support on TwitterABC Life Support on LinkedInABC Life Support on InstagramRate and Review the PodcastIf you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts.If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected] This Episode? Don't Miss the Next One!Be notified each time a new episode of HR Coffee Time is released and get access to other free career tips, tools and resources by signing up to receive the free weekly HR Coffee Time email.Mentioned in this episode:Join the Inspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeBuild your confidence, credibility & impact through the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme. The next cohort is now open for booking. Inspiring HRHelp That’s There when It’s Needed MostMenopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they don't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away. Kara Connect