HomebusinesshealthAwards and RecognitionbusinesshealthResourcesBlog
The Callery Group
About UsOur ServicesContact Us

How to Give First Aid for Mental Health
There’s a new perspective on mental health at work, and it’s a real eye-opener

We talk a good deal about mental health in the workplace and how we should be reaching out and helping employees going through a rough time. Sure, but how do you start that conversation? Really now, what can you possibly say?

Well, it turns out there’s some pretty good answers to those questions, and I got them from a lady with a really great job title.

I met Christina Fuda at a local event a few weeks ago, and we immediately started talking. She is a Mental Health First Aid Coordinator.

It’s a great concept – first aid for mental health – and it instantly puts our role in employee mental health into a new perspective.

And it immediately gets us over that huge barrier we all face when we see an employee struggling with issues. We’re not physicians or social workers, we say to ourselves. It’s personal and private, we say. How can we possibly intervene?

Well, as Christina explained to me, think “first aid.” If an employee is physically injured at work, well, we’re still not doctors, but we don’t hesitate to give first aid and to call for professional help.

That, says Christina, should be the workplace model for mental health, too. When we see signs of an employee struggling, we should give first aid.

Of course, it helps enormously if you have an EAP (employee assistance program), and you may want to talk to your benefits coordinator if you don’t. Even so, some employees may never have thought about using it. They may think of it as a last resort.

But it doesn’t have to that way at all. When you see problems, says Christina, "You have to have that conversation."

What you say, and how you say it, makes all the difference in making sure the employee accepts your help and makes the decision to move forward. Here are some her tips on how to do that.

  • Keep it professional. Friendly, sure, and as little formality as possible, but this is not a personal conversation.
  • Have the conversation in private, of course, but keep it as low-key as possible: much better to start with, “Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?” then to schedule a meeting in the HR office ahead of time (with all the stress that can entail).
  • Start by explaining that the employee is valued. "You’re part of the team here, you do great work, we rely on you and we want to make sure you can keep doing a good job. I’m talking to you because we care about you."
  • Talk about some of the observable changes you have noticed. Calling in sick more often. Change in attitude or demeanour. Work performance.
  • Give reassurance. Explain that this is not a disciplinary meeting, that his or her job is safe, and that you are just reaching out to help.
  • Talk about the support that is available. The first choice is always the EAP. But there are also community resources a quick web search away (if the employee wants to keep it private). Otherwise, perhaps HR has confidential contacts. And there’s always the person’s family physician, trained and ready to help or refer.
  • Put that support in context. “When you call the EAP, the first thing you get is someone to talk to – someone who understands where you’re coming from, no matter what you want to talk about.” Or, “This is what family physicians are trained to help with."
  • End with confirmation. “We’re here to help, and we’ll be with you as long as it takes.”

Just as important as taking the right approach, and saying all the right things, is avoiding some of the mistakes that one could easily make. Remember, this is a professional conversation, and we never want to cross the line. And it’s first aid – not treatment.

  • Do not give a diagnosis, or use any words that even remotely sound like one. Don’t say, “You seem depressed,” or “I notice you have mood swings.” Stay away from “pop psychology” at all costs.
  • Do not offer advice. It’s always tempting to say, “What I would do is…” or “Maybe you should try…” But, no. Don’t offer advice, even if you’re asked for it. Your “advice” is to call the EAP and you should stick to that.
  • Don’t let character or motive into the conversation. Things like, “You can be impatient with people when you’re stressed out,” or “I think you did this because…” can throw the whole process right off the rails.
  • Do not be a shoulder to cry on. Make it clear that you’re not there to commiserate or to talk through problems, or anything like that. Leave that conversation to the pros at the EAP.
  • Don’t let it get personal. Even if you’ve long had a friendly relationship with the employee, this is still a professional conversation.

I really like the use of the term “First Aid” in this. It just seems to make so much sense, and it puts things in perspective. If an employee is injured on the job, of course you help. Of course you go and make that employee as comfortable as possible. Of course you offer reassurance and tell him or her that you’re there to help. Of course you call for help, and of course you stay right there until help arrives.

If we think about mental health in the workplace the same way, I think we’ll all be able to do a much better job.

If there is a topic that you would like me to write about, please email me at bill@penmore.com.

Copyright Notice

All rights reserved. All of the content herein is the sole property of the Penmore Callery Group, and may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system - in whole or in part - without the written permission of the Penmore Callery Group. Links to the originating article at www.callerygroup.com are permitted.

The Buzz Bits
Miscellaneous links to interesting benefits information


Margaret Trudeau, Celebrated Canadian & Mental Health Advocate. Shared her message of resilience with the goal of helping to inspire others and to erase the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

A primer on the parliamentary report on pharmacare

One more reason to have employment agreements

Myriad of health claims suggest cannabis is a panacea for what ails us. But is it?

The consequences of zero tolerance at work – Penmore e-news

CAA shares journey to a healthy workplace

Ontario Shores celebrating 100 years of care

Proactively identifying people at risk next stage in mental-health awareness

Community Ethics, Big City Expertise

Subscribe to the Buzz Blog

Blog archive

Time To Get Ahead Of The Curve

"We've all been working from home for the last four months and now it looks like we're probably never going to go back to working in the office." It’s a statement I'm hearing every day, as more and more workplaces are discovering that working from home is working out better than anyone ever imagined. [more]

Hitting Reset On The Mindset

We can't afford to think "when this is over." We have a job to do and a chance to step up and really shine [more]

Working From Home

10 ways to communicate effectively in a working-from-home environment  [more]

Managing Paramedical Benefits

Think aboutwhy you offer paramedical benefits in order to manage them effectively  [more]

It's All About The Experience

I thought cell phone dependency was a cliche - until I lost mine far from home  [more]

What Happened When I Lost My Phone

I thought cell phone dependency was a cliche - until I lost mine far from home  [more]

"Mental Health" Doesn't Mean What it Used to Mean

We’re done admiring the problem, and it’s time to take some action  [more]

When There is No Return to Work

An Ontario court has set a limit on employers' return-to-work obligations  [more]

Rooting Out the Root Causes

When benefits fraud gets out of hand, it's a sign of big problems higher up  [more]

Four Key Gaps in Benefits Plans

Annual Sanofi survey zeros in on knowledge gaps in plan management [more]

How to Avoid Falling Through the Generation Gaps

Never mind "the older" and "the younger" generation – there are now five of them [more]

Predictive Analysis and Three Other Trends to Watch

Benefits and wellness programs are never going to be the same again [more]

Pharmacare: A Solution Looking for a Problem

Pharmacare would be such a good idea - if everybody wasn't already covered [more]

When the "Human Side" Gets Right in Your Face

A seriously injured client gives us a whole new perspective on resilience [more]

Is Virtual Health Care the New Must-Have Benefit?

In the age of the smart phone, do we really still need to line up and wait to talk to a doctor? [more]

Three Things I Learned from Doc Martin

When it comes to losing weight, there are a few basics you just can't get around [more]

Top 10 Take-Aways from a Crazy Busy Year

What we can learn from the biggest and most controversial issues we've looked at this year [more]

Engagement is the New Normal

What do employees really want from their jobs? [more]

10 Things You Need to Know about Travel Insurance

How to avoid making the mistakes that could cost you your insurance coverage [more]

How to Give First Aid for Mental Health

There's a new perspective on mental health at work, and it's a real eye-opener [more]

What Else Is In Bill 148 - And Why You Need to Know

There's a lot more to Bill 148 than minimum wage hikes and personal emergency leave [more]

The Next Big Thing in Benefits?

Major insurance providers are looking seriously at covering pharmacogenetic testing [more]

Will Cannabis Legalization Change Attitudes about Testing?

New legal limits for impairment may have a bigger impact than legalization [more]

Avoiding The Dreaded "Claim Rejected"

Benefits administrators are always caught in the middle when claims are rejected [more]

Big Data Takes On Benefits Fraud

Data analysis is starting to make a dent in many benefits fraud schemes [more]

The Chronic Pain Puzzle

Financial costs alone are higher than cancer, heart disease and HIV combined [more]

Financial Wellness: Why Money Management Counseling is Such a Good Idea

Debt counseling and money management education can make a big difference for employees [more]

The Next Big Thing: Mental Health Policy

It's time to get ahead of the curve on this one [more]

Unintended Lessons I've learned about Blogging so far

You never know what's going to happen when you click on a link [more]

Drugs, Alcohol and, Oh Yes, Marijuana

Changing times may require all of us to take a long hard look at our drug-and-alcohol policies [more]

Best Tips For Sleeping Well

If you're just not sleeping well, there are some pretty effective things you can do to make it better [more]

Survey Says: Wellness Programs Improve Overall Satisfaction

It seems that employees' satisfaction with wellness programs spills over into satisfaction with their benefits programs and their jobs in general [more]

Changes Coming to Personal Emergency Leave Laws

Amendments to the Employment Standards Act will significantly increase legally mandated employee leaves [more]

The Good News and the Bad News on Diabetes

We keep hearing about a "diabetes epidemic," but there are things we can do now to improve our odds of beating the statistics [more]

Who's Your "Broker" Working For?

In a world of brokers, agents, advisors and consultants, it's important to stay focused on who's really working for you [more]

The Secret to Really Good Workplace Wellness

Workplace wellness is a way to solve a lot of problems before they even come up [more]

Medical Marijuana - More Questions than Answers

A lack of medical consensus makes drug plan coverage of medical marijuana very difficult [more]

Pharmacogenomics Means Better Prescriptions

A simple DNA test can now help pinpoint which drugs are going to work best for you [more]

Why Airplanes Crash

What one successful CEO learned from air crash investigations – and how it all applies to managing any organization [more]

Not A Delicate Subject Anymore...

How to start the conversation about mental health in the workplace [more]

A Look Inside

There's more to this business that we usually talk about... [more]

Bio What-Now?

Get ready for "generic" biologics. [more]

What You Don't Want to Say to Your Doctor

There are some things that you want to explain to your doctor, and some things you really should stay away from. [more]

Your Dentist's Pet Peeve

Why you should know all the ins and outs of your dental insurance plan before you ever lean back in the chair and open wide [more]

About that Credit Card Travel Insurance

It may be of some value, especially if you have no pre-existing conditions, but you really need to read that fine print [more]

Right Drug, Right Time, Right Cost

Why you should work with your doctor, your pharmacist, and your drug plan to make sure you get optimal treatmenty [more]

Big Smiles

A focus on dental plans will ensure that everyone remains happy [more]

Your Doctor Doesn't Know Everything

When it comes to prescriptions, patients need to be part of the conversation [more]

Prescription for Disaster

Advances in pharmaceuticals are threatening your drug plan [more]

Sleep Easy

Conditions like sleep apnea can be treated, ensuring proper rest and productive days [more]

Easy as EAP

Formal support makes a big difference when employees face personal challenges [more]

Well Done

10 ways to develop an effective workplace wellness program [more]

Mind Matters

Businesses can't afford to ignore the mental health of their employees [more]

Brian's Story

Brian Callery is celebrating 40 years in our business. It's a commitment that makes a difference in his clients' businesses [more]

The Benefits to You

The same plans designed to protect employees will also offer advantages to employers [more]

Lawyer Up

There are legal ramifications around changing benefit plans - especially if an employee is being terminated [more]

Travel Trauma

Dream vacations can turn into nightmares when travel insurance claims are denied [more]

Evolution Solution

Evolving benefit plans will meet employee needs and support recruiting and retention efforts [more]

Plan & Predict

How rising paramedical claims, drug reforms, and other trends will affect your workplace benefits [more]

Who Benefits

Education makes the case for workplace benefit plans [more]

Season of Renewal

Important questions to ask your benefits advisor before inking a deal [more]

Preventive Measures

Paramedical services help keep employees healthy, on the job, and productive [more]

A Bounce in Their Step

Canada Rubber Group employees are embracing their new wellness program [more]

Business Benefits

Shandex Group and Indaco Manufacturing discuss the value of evolving employee benefits plans [more]

A New Mindset

Workplaces can't afford to ignore the mental health of employees [more]

Cost Cutters

10 cost-cutting strategies to protect your benefits plan [more]

Safe Travels

12 ways to protect yourself on your next vacation [more]

Breaking News

Learn from the mistakes of an AOL executive when discussing any changes to your benefits plans [more]

Watch the Gaps

Protect against turnover and lost opportunities by recognizing the generation gaps [more]

Generation Next

Generation Y represents the future of your business - and will see workplace benefits plans in a different way [more]

Absent Minded

Employers are paying the price for absenteeism, but it can be controlled [more]

Think Positive

Programs that build positive workplaces make business sense [more]

Back to School

8 important lessons your employees need to learn about benefits plans [more]

Find a Better Broker

6 questions you should ask anyone who wants to sell you a benefits plan [more]

Plan Your ROI

5 ways employee benefits plans can deliver a real Return on Investment [more]

The Benefit of Benefits

3 ways a benefits plan can improve your company's bottom line. [more]

A Healthy Dose of Information

5 questions for your pharmacist that might save your drug plan and your wallet. [more]

Claim Denied

Consider these 8 ways to avoid rejected benefit claims. [more]

Travel Planning

6 questions to ask before assuming you are protected by a group plan's travel insurance. [more]

Biologic Logic

Growing list of biologic drugs could bankrupt poorly protected drug plans. [more]

Smart Shopping

8 shopping habits that will protect your benefits plan. [more]

Tough Medicine

Employees will share more responsibilities and higher costs to sustain their benefits. [more]

Crime Costs

5 scams that could be placing your benefits plan at risk. [more]

A Prescription for Your Drug Plan

Skyrocketing drug prices may be threatening your benefits plan, but generic drugs offer a cure. [more]

Planes, Trains and Travel Insurance

The fine print in your travel insurance may leave you more exposed than you think. [more]

Healthy and Wealthy

5 steps to an employee wellness program that will generate real financial returns. [more]

Avoiding Burnout During Holiday Season

Education and Prevention can help control spiraling benefit costs. [more]

Sweat the Small Stuff

Protect your staff by avoiding these common "paperwork" mistakes by administrators. [more]



Services Personal Services Corporate Services