Mental Health First Aid (Adult)

Yes, it is important to care about mental health first aid in the workplace. When an employer prioritises mental health first aid (mhfa), it can improve employee well-being, enhance productivity, and create a positive work culture. It also helps reduce costs associated with absenteeism, turnover, and healthcare by addressing mental health issues early.

According to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), employers should provide first aid provision related to mental health, not just physical health. Therefore, employers need to consider covering Mental Health First Aid training in addition to First Aid at Work training. The HSE in a 2024 update emphasised employers’ responsibilities to take account of employees’ mental health in their first aid needs assessment.

Here are some important statistics that show why having someone trained in workplace mental health first aid is important. 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental illness each year. In the workplace, this results in £10.6 billion being lost to sickness-related absences, and £21.2 billion in productivity loss. Also, there is a cost of £3.1 billion alone in hiring for job roles that have been vacated due to mental health issues. It pays to get ahead of mental health in the workplace! That’s why we strongly recommend companies invest in a mental health first aid course.

The action plan for responding to a mental health issue in the UK is based upon the protocol devised by St John Ambulance. That’s why we are a market leader and trusted source of training when it comes to mental health first aid. We have training centres located conveniently across Wales, and can also come to your business if six or more employees require training.