Survey: Organisational approaches to mental health, Part 2

Mental Health First Aid at work: Use, impact and value: a survey of OH professionals and review of literature

Summary:

In the second, and final, report of Occupational Health [at Work]’s exclusive survey on organisational approaches to mental health, John Ballard and Alice Sinclair focus on OH professionals’ views and experience of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) at work – its effectiveness, reasons for using or not using MHFA, where it is deployed, supervision and training of mental health first aiders and the impact and effectiveness of the intervention. It includes an assessment of relevant literature. 

More than half of the occupational health (OH) professionals responding to a survey on mental health and wellbeing at work say their organisation uses Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, which was originally designed to help members of the public offer initial support and signposting to people struggling with mental ill health. But the findings reveal mixed opinions as to whether or not it is helpful in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of staff and on its cost-effectiveness….

Dr John Ballard is editor of Occupational Health [atWork].

Alice Sinclair is a freelance social policy researcher with considerable experience in research on occupational health.

Author: Ballard J, Sinclair A

Tags mental health training

Occupational Health at Work December/January 2020/2021 (vol. 17/4) pp18-30

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