Your how-to: Creating a peer training program for workplace mental health ambassadors
A peer training program for workplace mental health ambassadors is a proactive approach to promoting and fostering mental well-being at work. Essentially, the program involves training selected employees, who will act as mental health ambassadors, in understanding mental health issues, providing initial assistance, and promoting a mentally healthy workplace culture.
The ambassadors are not mental health professionals, but employees who are trained to recognise the signs of mental health difficulties, provide initial help and guide a person towards appropriate professional help, if necessary. The purpose of these ambassadors is to offer initial emotional and psychological support to colleagues, promoting an atmosphere of understanding and openness about mental health in the workplace.
Within the context of Australia, this strategy aligns with the Safe Work Australia’s guide, 'Work-related psychological health and safety', which emphasises the need for mental health intervention strategies in workplaces. It not only supports employees’ well-being but could also meet workplace health and safety obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
This program capitalises on peer relationships and connections within the workplace because co-workers are often the first to notice when someone is struggling. Therefore, well-trained mental health ambassadors can play a key role in early intervention, which is critical in successfully managing mental health issues.
Step by step instructions
Establish the Need for a Program: Before starting a mental health ambassador program, it's essential to identify the need for such a program within your organisation. You can accomplish this by conducting an internal survey to gauge employees' understanding of and attitudes towards mental health. This can help you identify if there's a need for education or support concerning mental health in your workplace.
Determine the Structure of the Program: Define the parameters of the program such as who will be eligible to become ambassadors, their roles and responsibilities, and the training they will undergo. Remember that these individuals are not intended to be replacements for professional help but to provide initial assistance and guide colleagues to appropriate help.
Develop the Training Plan: Create a detailed training plan that will provide ambassadors with the knowledge and skills they need. The training should cover topics such as understanding mental health and wellbeing, recognising signs of distress, active listening and communication skills, and knowledge on resources and professional help opportunities.
Monitor and Evaluate the Program: Regularly check in with your ambassadors to discuss any concerns they have and gather their feedback to improve the program. Also, periodically assess the overall impact of the program within your organisation to identify if it's working, or if any changes are needed.
Obtain Leadership Buy-in: It is vital to get endorsement and support from the top management as this can affect the employees' acceptance of the program. Discuss your plans, show them the findings from the employee survey, and explain how the initiative can help promote a more supportive work environment.
Choose the Ambassadors: Once you've defined the parameters, identify who would be suitable for the role of mental health ambassador. A good ambassador is someone who is empathetic, trustworthy, has good listening skills, and is respected by their peers.
Conduct the Training: After creating the training plan, it's time to conduct training sessions. These can combine online resources, live programs, group discussions, and role-playing activities to maximise learning.
Promote the Program: A successful program is one that is widely acknowledged within the organisation. Promote the program through internal communications so that all employees are aware of the available support. This not only gives your employees access to help, but it also fosters a culture of openness around mental health.
Use this template to implement
To ensure you can execute seamlessly, download the implementation template.
Pitfalls to avoid
One potential pitfall is not providing enough training for your mental health ambassadors. It's critically important that all ambassadors are thoroughly trained in mental health principles, support tactics, and essential mental health first aid. Without sufficient training, ambassadors may feel ill-equipped to handle the challenges they're likely to face.
The privacy and dignity of every individual should be respected. Not placing enough emphasis on confidentiality can lead to trust issues, potentially discouraging people from seeking help. Ambassadors should be trained to observe strict confidentiality and abide by all relevant Australian privacy laws.
Australia is a culturally diverse nation. A generic mental health training program may not be as impactful or relevant to all participants. Tailor your program to account for cultural backgrounds and sensitivities, to ensure it’s truly inclusive and meets the needs of all ambassadors.
Having the support of senior leadership is crucial to the implementation and ongoing success of the program. If senior management doesn’t value or prioritise mental health awareness and stigma reduction, the effectiveness of the peer training program may be reduced.
Implementing such a program requires significant resources - both monetary and non-monetary (like time and manpower). If you do not factor this into your planning, you could end up struggling to support and sustain the programme in the long-term.
Mental health best practices and understandings evolve frequently. Therefore, it's essential to update your training program regularly to keep your ambassadors well-informed and up-to-date.