The first ever Workplace Mental Health First Aid Standards have just been published, and as an MHFA instructor I’ve read every page so you don’t have to (though I’d love you to).

Training people is a brilliant start. What the standards add is a clear picture of what those trained people need around them to make a difference: time, backing, a defined role and somewhere safe to have conversations. How awesome is that?

The document sets out nine standards across four phases:

• Foundations: leadership commitment, policy, a named MHFA lead and clear role descriptions
• Building your network: accredited training, protected time, confidential spaces and an escalation process
• Keeping it working: debriefs, wellbeing check-ins for MHFAiders and an annual review
• Embedding it in culture: visibility, induction, wider support and even a nod to customers and suppliers

A few things I particularly like:

• Each standard is marked as required or recommended, so you can see where to start
• There are callouts for smaller organisations without a big HR team
• MHFAiders must be willing participants and can step back from the role at any time without penalty
• The phases are described as a cycle you keep moving through, with no top rung to reach and tick off

The numbers give plenty to think about too. Poor mental health costs UK employers £51 billion a year, and the document reports an average return of £4.70 for every £1 spent on staff wellbeing.

Whether you run a team of five or five hundred, there’s something in here for you. Pop the kettle on and have a read: workplace-mental-health-first-aid-standards.pdf

And don't miss the GUIDE to employers "Implementing First Aiders"