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<p>Employers are already required under the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations
1981 to consider mental health alongside physical health when undertaking their first
aid needs assessment. On the 21<sup>st</sup> November 2018 the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE) published guidance, developed with Mental Health First Aid-England, to clarify
this point and improve employer understanding.</p><p> </p><p>Findings from recent
reviews<sup>1, 2 </sup>looking at the impact of mental health first aid training in
a workplace environment show that there are a number of knowledge gaps which mean
it is not possible to say whether it is effective in improving the management of mental
health in workplaces, or whether it is the only effective mechanism for support. The
findings also highlight several additional prevention and management measures that
employers should put in place to supplement the essentially reactive approach of mental
health first aid.</p><p> </p><p>Government recognises that mental health first aid
training has a role to play in a comprehensive approach to managing mental health
in workplaces and anecdotally some individuals report positive benefits. In November
2017, the joint DWP/DHSC Work and Health Unit published “<em>Improving Lives: the
Future of Work, Health and Disability” </em>command paper which describes the range
of actions that Government is taking forward, including building support for those
experiencing mental ill-health to remain in or enter the workplace. This includes
implementing recommendations from the independent Lord Stevenson and Paul Farmer ‘Thriving
at Work’ review published in October 2017 that considered how employers can better
support the mental health of their employees. Its central recommendation identified
the need for employers to adopt a comprehensive set of mental health standards. This
comprehensive approach will help employers to encourage an open, transparent and supportive
organisational culture and tailor their actions to address varying factors such as
their employee needs, type of work and size of company. The Government is working
closely with employers of all sizes to help them implement the standards and easily
access the right support and guidance.</p><p> </p><p>1: <a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr1135.pdf"
target="_blank">www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr1135.pdf</a></p><p>2: <a href="https://www.iosh.co.uk/MHFAworkplace"
target="_blank">https://www.iosh.co.uk/MHFAworkplace</a></p>
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