Written by Heidi Wadsworth alongside guest Matt Holman from Simpila Wellbeing | 24th September 2025
Why Workplaces Need Mental Health First Aiders
Reality HR are delighted to partner with Simpila Wellbeing on this guest blog exploring the growing importance of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) in today’s workplaces.
As more employers recognise that a healthier, happier team drives productivity and long-term success, mental health support is rightly moving up the agenda. One initiative making a real difference is Mental Health First Aid, a structured approach that empowers trained employees to spot early signs of mental ill health, offer non-judgemental support, and guide colleagues to appropriate help.
There are now over 660,000 Mental Health First Aiders supporting their colleagues across England, a figure that reflects the growing commitment to workplace wellbeing. One of the leading voices in this space is Matt Holman, Founder of Simpila Wellbeing, who has been delivering MHFA training since April 2018. Over the past seven years, Matt has personally trained more than 3,000 Mental Health First Aiders, helping organisations embed meaningful mental health support into their culture. In 2022, MHFA England launched a refreshed and updated version of the programme, further strengthening its relevance and impact.
So, why should your organisation consider introducing Mental Health First Aiders?
Matt Holman, Founder of Simpila Wellbeing, explains the role of Mental Health First Aiders:
“The purpose of a Mental Health First Aider is to be a trusted point of contact for employees who may be struggling with their mental health or wellbeing. In many workplaces, stigma still exists around mental health, and employees may feel more comfortable opening up to a trained peer rather than their manager.
Mental Health First Aiders are equipped to listen actively and spot the early signs of mental ill health. They’re trained to confidently signpost colleagues to appropriate support, whether that’s internal resources or external professional help, and they know how to respond in crisis situations, including when someone may be experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Sometimes, it’s as simple as having a non-judgemental conversation, lending a friendly ear, or helping someone take the first step toward professional support.
Beyond one-to-one support, Mental Health First Aiders can also act as Mental Health Champions promoting awareness, encouraging open conversations, and helping to break down stigma across the organisation.
It’s important to understand that Mental Health First Aiders are not therapists, counsellors or psychiatrists. They don’t diagnose or treat mental health conditions, but they do play a vital role in listening, supporting, and guiding people to the right help.
Any employee can volunteer to become a Mental Health First Aider. When selecting individuals, it’s important to look for those who are empathetic, compassionate, and good listeners, people who genuinely care about the wellbeing of others.”
What are the benefits of Mental Health First Aiders?
Mental Health First Aiders open the conversation
As mentioned, having dedicated team members trained to talk about mental health, lessens the stigma that still surrounds it and encourages people to speak about their mental health struggles more openly and positively in the workplace.
It gives employees the opportunity to go to someone if they don’t feel comfortable talking to their manager, their colleagues or even their friends and family about their mental health. Knowing there is someone trained and willing to listen can be incredibly comforting and provide psychological safety
Early intervention
First and foremost, Mental Health First Aiders are trained to spot the early signs of mental health issues. Whether it’s noticing subtle changes in behaviour, mood, or productivity, these trained employees can intervene before problems escalate, potentially preventing issues like burnout or depression.
One resource Mental Health First Aiders may recommend is a Wellness Action Plan. This is an effective tool to ensure staff are supported and employers are clear about how they can help in the event of a problem. It’s a way for every employee – whether they have a mental health problem or not – to work with their manager to identify what keeps them well at work.
Boosted productivity and performance
Healthy employees are productive employees. When mental health issues are addressed early and effectively, employees are more likely to recover, be engaged, focused, and motivated, and as a result perform better at work.
On the other hand, unaddressed mental health issues can lead to increased absenteeism or presenteeism (where employees are physically present but too unwell to work effectively), which are both costly for your business.
Supporting your Mental Health First Aiders
Introducing Mental Health First Aiders into your organisation is a powerful step, but it’s equally important to ensure they feel supported in their role.
Matt Holman highlights that while MHFAiders are trained to support others, they also need access to resources that protect their own wellbeing. Supporting someone through a mental health crisis can be emotionally demanding, and without the right structures in place, MHFAiders may find themselves overwhelmed.
Organisations should consider offering access to counselling, debriefing sessions, peer support networks, and regular breaks. While confidentiality must always be respected, MHFAiders benefit from knowing they’re not alone in their role.
One valuable resource is The Association of Mental Health First Aiders, launched by MHFA England in June 2024. This membership body provides ongoing support, access to research, events, and further training opportunities to help MHFAiders continue their development long after their initial certification.
Simpila Wellbeing also offers a virtual community for those they’ve trained. For a small annual fee, members receive regular newsletters, access to a supportive network, and opportunities to stay connected and informed. This is a great way to maintain momentum and feel part of a wider movement.
Raising Awareness Across Your Organisation
Before training MHFAiders, consider running awareness sessions for your wider team. This helps build understanding of what MHFA is, why it matters, and how it fits into your company’s wellbeing strategy. It also signals your commitment to mental health and prepares employees to engage with the initiative positively.
Once your MHFAiders are trained, make sure everyone knows who they are and how to reach them. This could include:
- Lanyards or badges for easy identification
- Profiles on your intranet or wellbeing hub
- Posters or digital signage around the office
- Email introductions or reminders
MHFA as part of a broader wellbeing strategy
Mental Health First Aid is one valuable element of a wider strategy to support employee wellbeing. It works best when combined with other initiatives such as
- Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs)
- Flexible working and work-life balance policies
- Physical health and wellness programmes
- Manager training on mental health awareness
By embedding MHFA into a wider wellbeing strategy, you create a culture where mental health is supported at every level.
If you’d like to explore how Mental Health First Aid, or other wellbeing initiatives, could support your team, please get in touch with us at info@realityhr.co.uk.
You can also watch a recorded conversation between Matt Holman from Simpila Wellbeing and Heidi from Reality HR, where they discuss the role of Mental Health First Aiders, how to embed MHFA into your organisation, and what meaningful support looks like.
Watch at a time that suits you – https://vimeo.com/1119794546?share=copy
About the author: Heidi Wadsworth, Head of Learning and Development
Heidi leads our team of trainers, ensuring that the training sessions we deliver are always insightful and impactful. As an outstanding trainer herself, Heidi brings her trademark qualities of patience, approachability, and direct communication to all her sessions. As a qualified Insights Practitioner, she uses personality profiling to help individuals better understand themselves and those around them.