Should Mental Health First Aid be mandatory in every workplace?

In this episode of Wellbeing Talk, I sat down with with Sarah McIntosh, Chief Executive of @MentalHealthFirstAidEngland (MHFA) England, about the future of workplace wellbeing, prevention, and the growing impact of MHFA across the UK.

Since 2007, MHFA England has trained more than 1.1 million people across 20,000 + organisations to build inclusive, mentally healthy cultures.

Yet only 29% of employers currently train managers to support mental health, contributing to a £212 billion annual loss in productivity and economic inactivity.

Sarah shares how MHFA England’s Mandate the Change campaign, new Workplace MHFA Standards, and the first-ever MHFAider Day aim to close this gap - equipping people with the skills, confidence, and structure to offer help before crisis hits.

We discuss:

Why MHFA England believes Mental Health First Aid should be as standard as physical first aid

The rise of prevention-focused workplace wellbeing

The role of employers in creating mentally healthy, productive teams

Insights from The MHFAider Effect report and the voices behind the movement

Sarah McIntosh’s personal journey as a leader driving culture change

Watch, learn, and join the conversation about how we can make mental health support the norm, not a privilege.

=============================

⏱️ Chapter Markers:

0:00 Intro

03:18 Sarah McIntosh on what first inspired her to work in mental health

07:57 How Sarah McIntosh’s personal wellbeing journey shapes her leadership at MHFA England

09:53 Biggest misconceptions about Mental Health First Aid explained

14:54 How the CEO of MHFA England practices self-care and balance

16:45 Why the 2019 attempt to include mental health in first-aid law failed – and what’s different now

20:41 Inside MHFA England’s decision to create national Workplace MHFA Standards

23:31 Which MHFA Standards will make the biggest difference for employers?

25:41 Advice for organisations that support MHFA but haven’t embedded it yet

29:24 Beyond cost: The real barriers employers face to implementing MHFA

32:08 The Keep Britain Working Review – why prevention is key to keeping people in work

35:10 How MHFA fits into a preventative approach to workplace wellbeing

40:12 What MHFAider Day means for Sarah McIntosh and the wider MHFA community

42:50 Key findings and trends from The MHFAider Effect report

43:29 Powerful MHFAider stories that show the impact of mental health first aid

49:17 Why MHFAiders’ voices matter in shaping national mental health policy

52:50 Sarah McIntosh’s hopes for the future of MHFAider Day and the movement

54:17 What gives Sarah McIntosh hope about the future of workplace mental health

55:00 One action every employer can take to improve mental health at work

56:52 Outro

=============================

🔔 If you’re interested in how to have more compassionate and constructive conversations about mental health - both in and outside of the workplace, don’t forget to subscribe to the @letsgowellbeing YouTube channel.

How does menopause affect mental health at work and what can employers do to better support employees?

In this episode of Wellbeing Talk, I sat down with Deborah Garlick, founder and CEO of Henpicked Menopause in the Workplace to discuss how menopause impacts women’s mental health, confidence, and performance at work.

Deborah shares her own experience, explores cultural stigma, and explains how organisations can build menopause-friendly policies that boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing.

🎙️ We cover:

Deborah’s personal story and the origins of Henpicked

Why conversations about menopause at work still carry stigma

Insights from The M Factor and World Menopause Day

The psychological symptoms that most affect confidence and mental health

How to make the business case for menopause support

What leaders need to know about legislation, the Equality Act, and menopause discrimination

Practical ways to engage employees and create supportive culture

=============================

⏱️ Chapter Markers:

00:00 Intro

01:30 Deborah Garlick: Her Journey and Why She Founded Henpicked

09:48 The M Factor - Shredding the Silence on Menopause at Work and Cultural Change

17:00 World Menopause Day - Key Themes and Global Progress

22:49 How to Boost Employee Engagement Around Menopause Initiatives

27:45 Menopause and Mental Health - Confidence, Brain Fog & Real Stories

33:30 The Business Case for Investing in Menopause Support and Employee Wellbeing

36:09 Menopause Legislation & Leadership - Equality Act, Discrimination and Best Practice

41:11 Outro

=============================

🔔 Subscribe for more awareness days, interviews, research from the world of mental health in the workplace @letsgowellbeing

What makes a workplace mental health strategy truly effective and how do you measure its impact?

In this episode of Wellbeing Talk, I’m joined by Chris Cummings, CEO of Wellbeing at Work World, to explore the future of workplace wellbeing.

Since 2014, Chris and his team have been brining together senior leaders from over 113 countries across global summits and round tables, helping organisations embed wellbeing as a strategic priority.

We discuss:

* What authentic leadership for employee wellbeing looks like

* How to move beyond perks and tick-box exercises to structural change

* The most meaningful ways to measure workplace wellbeing and prove ROI

* Why culture and psychological safety are non-negotiable foundations

* The role of managers, hybrid working, AI, and ESG in shaping the future of wellbeing

If you’re a leader, HR professional, or wellbeing advocate, this conversation offers practical insights and inspiration to help you build a healthier, more resilient workplace.

#WorkplaceWellbeing #MentalHealthAtWork #Leadership #FutureOfWork #Wellbeingtalk

=============================

⏱️ Chapter Markers:

0:00 Intro – Workplace Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy

1:44 Chris Cummings’ Background & Mission

11:13 Authentic Leadership in Employee Wellbeing

14:15 Embedding Mental Health Into Business Strategy

22:11 Moving Beyond Tick-Box Wellbeing Initiatives

27:54 Measuring the Impact of Workplace Wellbeing

32:44 Cultural Foundations of a Successful Wellbeing Strategy

34:52 How Managers Can Lead Inclusion & Build Confidence

39:56 Practical Steps to Boost Psychological Safety at Work

43:18 Closing the Leadership Perception Gap in Wellbeing

51:18 AI, ESG & Hybrid Work: The Future of Workplace Wellbeing

56:03 Hope for the Future of Work & Employee Wellbeing

57:43 Outro

=============================

🔔 If you’re interested in how to have more compassionate and constructive conversations about mental health - both in and outside of the workplace, don’t forget to subscribe to the @letsgowellbeing YouTube channel.

In this episode of the Wellbeing Talk Podcast, I’m joined by Simon Blake, CEO of Stonewall, to explore the powerful connection between inclusion and mental health in the workplace.

We discuss:

* How inclusive environments impact LGBTQ+ employees’ mental health

* Practical data and policies that move senior leaders to act

* Supporting LGBTQ+ employees when public discourse turns hostile

* Low‑cost, high‑impact actions employers can implement now

Founded in 1989, Stonewall has been instrumental in advancing LGBTQ+ rights—from repealing Section 28 and equalising the age of consent, to lifting the ban on military service. Today, their mission remains clear: ensuring everyone, everywhere enjoys equal rights.

Learn more about Stonewall’s Proud Employers programme:

Discover how organisations can advance their inclusion journey through Stonewall’s Proud Employers programme—a leading initiative that helps employers build workplaces where LGBTQ+ staff and allies can thrive.

Stonewall’s Proud Employers initiative supports organisations in building inclusive workplaces, offering access to expert resources, peer networks, consultancy, benchmarking, and accreditation. As Simon Blake puts it, inclusion is not just a moral imperative—it’s good business too.

https://www.stonewall.org.uk/inclusive-workplaces/proud-employers

=============================

⏱️ Chapter Markers:

0:00 Intro

01:27 Simon’s Background

11:38 Parallels between MHFA and Stonewall

17:07 How do Inclusive Environments Affect mental Health

21:38 Workplace Policies That Support LGBTQ+ Mental Health

27:24 Culture Shifts That Improve Mental Health at Work

30:50 Trust and Transparency in Workplace Wellbeing

34:52 How Managers can Lead on Inclusion with Confidence

37:22 What Should Organisations Do When Public Discourse Turns Hostile?

41:47 What Legal Shifts Are Needed for Inclusive Workplaces?

43:16 How Do Overlapping Identities Impact Mental Health?

45:19 What Data Most Influences Senior Leaders on Inclusion?

47:32 Low-Cost Actions that Improve LGBTQ+ Mental Health at Work?

49:28 What’s the Future of LGBTQ+ Wellbeing at Work?

50:48 Outro

=============================

🔔 If you’re interested in how to have more compassionate and constructive conversations about mental health - both in and outside of the workplace, don’t forget to subscribe to the @letsgowellbeing YouTube channel.

When emotional pain is acute and resources are scarce, people can be left feeling like there's no way out. Every 90 minutes, someone dies by suicide in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

The impact reaches families, healthcare and legal systems, emergency services and the workplace. In fact, It’s estimated that up to 135 people are affected by every single suicide, at a cost of nearly £10 billion each year. So what can business leaders do to ensure people get the support they need before they reach crisis point?

And how can organisations use lived experience to make conversations about suicide and self-harm at work more open, more human, and more accessible?

To help us answer these questions, I’m joined by Julie Bentley, CEO of  @samaritans  An organisation that, with around 22,000 volunteers across nearly 200 branches, spends over 1 million hours a year responding to calls for help.

They are dedicated to providing a safe space in uncertain times and to achieving a vision that less people die by suicide.

When workplace communities don’t feel supportive, people struggling with their mental health can end up facing barriers instead of finding help.

Barriers that stop them from getting support early - making it more likely that a preventable issue becomes a serious problem.

It’s a problem measured in healthcare, human, and economic costs - estimated to exceed £300 billion a year in the UK alone.

So, how do we create better mental health outcomes, no matter what kind of community we’re part of, or who we work for?

To answer this question, I’m joined by Bertrand Stern-Gillet, CEO of @HAWisdomWellbeing - the UK and Ireland’s leading EAP provider.

As we discuss what it means to support mental health at work and how leaders can build stronger communities.

=============================

⏱️ Chapter Markers:

0:00 Intro

01:22 Bertrand's Background

09:09 Why Should Companies Invest in an EAP (Employee Assistance Programme)

17:24 How EAPs Help Reduce Pressure on Public Healthcare and the NHS

21:33 How the Use and Perception of EAPs Changed Before, During & After the Pandemic

25:08 How AI and ChatGPT Could Shape the Future of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)

27:47 How EAPs Help Companies Build Scalable Mental Health Support and Connection

32:35 The One Mindset Shift Business Leaders Need Around Workplace Mental Health

39:35 Outro

=============================

🔔 If you’re interested in how to have more compassionate and constructive conversations about mental health - both in and outside of the workplace, don’t forget to subscribe to the @letsgowellbeing YouTube channel.