Each year mental illness costs Australian workplaces $4.7 billion in absenteeism, $1.6 billion in presenteeism and $146 million in compensation claims. In addition, new workplace health and safety laws in most Australian jurisdictions impose more onerous obligations on employers to protect employees’ mental health.

Appointing mental health first aid officers within a workplace can help to meet compliance requirements, strengthen a supportive workplace culture, improve retention and engagement and reduce overall legal risk. Workplace MHFA Officers are equipped with the necessary skills to recognise a change in the mental health of employees or where an employee is experiencing a mental health crisis and to take appropriate action. Ideally, large businesses should have several MHFA Officers to increase awareness of mental health issues and promote early intervention.

The blended mental health first aid for workplaces course is designed for workplaces. It is delivered through a combination of online, eLearning and follow-on interactive online sessions with Belinda Winter, a partner in our workplace relations and safety team. Belinda is a unique trainer in that she is able to bridge the gap between the MHFA training and the workplace laws and how they intersect with each other.

eLearning component

Participants are required to complete an interactive, self-paced eLearning module in their own time before attending the face-to-face session. This module covers:

• depression
• anxiety
• psychosis
• substance abuse.

The component also covers mental health crises, including:

• suicidal thoughts and behaviours
• panic attacks
• traumatic events
• severe psychotic states
• severe effects from alcohol or drug use
• aggressive behaviours.

Completion of the eLearning component is mandatory. Failure to complete it will necessitate re-registration at an additional cost.