Introduction to Mental Health at Work
We've developed this resource with expert information from Penumbra, a leading Scottish mental health charity. It aims to support you to:
- create a positive culture where mental wellbeing is supported
- have clear plans and procedures to support people who are struggling with their mental wellbeing
- support staff who you are concerned may be experiencing suicidal or self-harming thoughts
A companion resource is available for apprentices and will be a good first place to guide people to if you are worried about their mental health:
View Mental Health at Work - a resource for Apprentices
Within your workplace or training/learning environment, it is likely that at any time a significant number of people will be struggling with their mental wellbeing. As an employer or training provider, there is much you can do to create a culture of positive wellbeing and to support people who are experiencing mental health difficulties.
Difficulties with our mental health can be caused by a wide variety of things such as:
- difficult past events in our lives, especially traumatic events
- difficult things going on in the present such as money worries, relationship problems or housing problems
- for some people, the way their brain, mind and body work, sometimes for genetic reasons
We are grateful to mental health charity Penumbra for providing advice and information on mental health for this resource. If any of your apprentices or other employees need support, you should encourage them to contact a GP or professional mental-health support organisation.