Standard 3: Encouraging an open culture around mental health
The Mental Health at Work Commitment is a set of actions, organised into 6 standards. Any organisation can follow these to improve and support the mental health of their people.
Standard 3 states that organisations should promote an open culture around mental health.
Parts of the standard
- Proactively change the way people think and act about mental health by increasing awareness and challenging mental health stigma
- Empower employees to champion mental health and positively role model in the workplace
- Encourage open two-way conversations about mental health and highlight the support available at all stages of employment
Standard 3 toolkit
One of the best ways to raise awareness about mental health and challenge stigma is to encourage conversation about it. Another way is to empower individuals in an organisation to take an active role in championing the issue. Both help create a culture where people feel able to come forward if they need support. It’s clear that passionate employees and volunteers, at any level of the organisation, are often the drivers of that cultural change.
And, as an employer, fostering an environment in which these conversations can take place, and supporting grassroots enthusiasm to champion mental health issues, plays an integral role in keeping staff well.
How to talk to your employer about your mental health
We at Mind information which can help you plan who to speak to, what to say and ask for when discussing your mental health at work. You may like to share this in your organisation to help others feel confident when disclosing their concerns.
Start the conversation
One of the first, and easiest, things you can do to start improving mental health at work is simply to start a conversation. In this video from This Is Me, people from various industries talk about their lived experience and the importance of talking to someone.
St Mungo’s Diversity Networks
Networks are a great way of connecting staff who have similar experiences and backgrounds. This is an example of networks available at St Mungo's, and may help you think about what networks you might like to introduce in your own workplace.
Take 10 Together: Starting the conversation
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England is calling on everyone to ‘Take 10 Together’ and take ten minutes to start a conversation about mental health. This can be an easy way to make time in your schedule to get your staff talking and thinking about their wellbeing.
This is Me
This is Me is a business-led campaign with lots of resources to support organisations, and their employees, to talk about mental health. It encourages people with experience of a mental health problem, whether their own or of a loved one, to share their stories. It may help encourage your employees to talk about their own concerns.
Workplace mental health manager conversation guides
Not all managers feel confident and comfortable talking about mental health. But it’s important that you do, and these guides from Bupa will help you know what to do if an employee talks to you about their own mental health, or of those for whom they care.
Setting up a Wellness Action Plan
Wellness Action Plans are for everyone, not just someone who has a problem right now. For all of us, it’s important to stay aware of our mental health at work, and a WAP can help with this. We have free templates and guides for employees and managers.