Mental Health in the Workplace

Unit One

1. Understand the difference between mental health and mental ill-health. 

• 1.1 Describe how mental health affects human behaviour.

2. Describe the components of mental well-being and how it relates to resilience.

• 2.1 Be able to provide examples of well-being in the workplace. 
• 2.2 Understanding resilience and the capacity to stay mentally well during difficult situations. 
• 2.3 Understand how to positively support individual well-being in the workplace. 

3. Understand how risk factors associated with mental ill-health can lead to problems in the workplace.

•  Be aware of risk factors that are caused from mental health.

4. Be able to recognise how mental health problems can affect day-to-day living.

• 4.1 Recognise how mental health can lead to other known character traits. 
• 4.2 Understand how mental health problems can affect normality from one day to another. 

5. Understand how social and cultural attitudes can lead to mental illness.

• 5.1 Recognise how stigma and discrimination can lead to overwhelming influences on individuals, communities and societies. 
• 5.2 Understand how stereotyping can lead to prejudice, discrimination and inequality. 

6. Understanding causes of stress and knowing how stress can stem from influences resulting from work. 

• 6.1 Understand what stress is and how it is commonly defined. 
• 6.2 Be able to recognise the signs and symptoms of useful and harmful stress. 
• 6.3 Be able to manage stress in the workplace – local and workplace support and self-management.

7. Be able to understand different types of mental health.

• 7.1 Describe what an anxiety is and how it becomes a mental health problem (including phobias). 
• 7.2 Recognise the physical and psychological signs and symptoms of anxiety. 
• 7.2 Be able to understand what depression is, how it is defined and what the common symptoms are.

8. Understand why mental health is not discussed in the workplace.

• 8.1 Be able to understand why employees do not discuss mental health at work.  

9. Be able to recognise other types of legislation that applies to Mental Health in the UK .

• 9.1 Be aware of legislation relating to mental health for employees working or living in England or Wales.

10. Be able to understand The Management Standards Approach.

• 10.1 Know what the Management Standards Approach is and how it relates to organisational guidelines. 10.2 Be able to explain all six areas of the Management Standard and understand them as six stress areas.  

11. Understanding problems in the workplace as a result of unidentified mental health.

• 11.1 Describe how difficult it is to discloses mental health in the workplace. 
• 11.2 Explain how to start a conversation with a colleague who has a suspected mental health condition. 
• 11.3 Know what advice to provide during a discussion with a colleague, friend or family relative. 

12. Be able to implement an action plan to promote a healthy workplace.

• 12.1 Know how to promote a healthy workplace. 
• 12.2 Be familiar with five key steps that help boost individual mental wellbeing. 

Unit One

1. Understand the difference between mental health and mental ill-health.

• 1.1Describe how mental health affects human behaviour. 
• 1.2 Understand mental health and how it relates to mental ill health. 

2. Describe the components of mental well-being and how it relates to resilience. 

• 2.1 Be able to provide examples of well-being in the workplace. 
• 2.2 Understanding resilience and the capacity to stay mentally well during difficult situations. 
• 2.3 Understand how to positively support individual well-being in the workplace. 

3. Understand how risk factors associated with mental ill health can lead to problems in the workplace. 

• 3.1 Be aware of risk factors that are caused from mental health.

4. Be able to recognise how mental health problems can affect day-to-day living.

• 4.1 Recognise how mental health can lead to other known character traits. 
• 4.2 Understand how mental health problems can affect normality from one day to another. 

5. Understand how social and cultural attitudes can lead to mental illness.

• 5.1 Recognise how stigma and discrimination can lead to overwhelming influences on individuals, communities and societies. 
• 5.2 Understand how stereotyping can lead to prejudice, discrimination and inequality. 
• 5.3 Be able to understand the Equality Act 2010 and its significance to mental health. 

6. Understanding causes of stress and knowing how stress can stem from influences resulting from work.

• 6.1 Understand what stress is and how it is commonly defined. 
• 6.2 Be able to recognise the signs and symptoms of useful stress and harmful stress. 
• 6.3 Be able to manage stress in the workplace – local and workplace support and self-management. 

7. Be able to understand the difference between an Anxiety and a Panic attack.

• 7.1 Describe what an anxiety is and how it becomes a mental health problem. 
• 7.2 Define what a panic attack is.
• 7.3 Recognise the physical and psychological signs and symptoms of anxiety. 
• 7.4 Be able to understand what depression is, how it is defined and what the common symptoms are.
• 7.4 Be familiar with how to manage depression from a personal aspect. 

8. Understand why mental health is not discussed in the workplace.

• 8.1 Be able to understand why employees do not discuss mental health at work. 

9. Be able to recognise other types of legislation that applies to Mental Health in the UK.

•  Be aware of legislation relating to mental health for employees working or living in England or Wales.

10. Be able to understand The Management Standards Approach.

• 10.1 Know what the Management Standards Approach is and how it relates to organisational guidelines. 10.2 Be able to explain all six areas of the Management Standard and understand them as six stress areas. 
• 10.3 Understand your role as an employer – duty of care and obligations. 

11. Be able to understand how an employees emotional intelligence enables them to manage their emotions with other people, both individually and in groups.  

• 11.1 Understand the 5 components of emotional intelligence. 
• 11.2 Be able to recognise a change in an employee and how that affects the workplace. 

12. Understanding problems in the workplace as a result of unidentified mental health.

• 12.1 Describe how difficult it is to disclose mental health in the workplace. 
• 12.2 Explain how to start a conversation with a colleague who has a suspected mental health condition. 
• 12.3 Know what advice to provide during a discussion with a colleague, friend or family relative.
• 12.4 Be able to provide support to an employee who has been away from work or is returning to work. 

13. Be able to implement an action plan to promote a healthy workplace.

• 13.1 Understand correct reporting procedures for your workplace and who to report to with suspected mental ill health. 
• 13.2 Know how to promote a healthy workplace.
• 13.3 Be familiar with five key steps that help boots individual mental wellbeing. 

 Unit One

1. Understand the difference between mental health and mental ill-health.

• 1.1 Understanding mental health and how it is defined. 
• 1.2 Describe how mental health affects human behaviour. 
• 1.3 List abnormalities resulting from mental health. 

2. Describe the components of mental well-being.

• 2.1 Be able to provide examples of well-being. 
• 2.2 Recognise ideals that relate to resilience. 
• 2.3 Understand how to maximise well-being in the workplace. 

3. Identify the risk factors associated with mental ill-health problems.

• 3.1 List risk factors that are caused by mental health. 
• 3.2 Be able to identify common, known or historical factors that can cause the risk of mental health. 

4. Describe examples of mental health problems.

• 4.1 Recognise how mental health can lead to other known character traits. 
• 4.2 Be able to understand how mental health problems can affect normality from one day to another. 4.3 Complete the ’Extreme effects of Mental Health problems on day to day living’ handout.  

5. Understand social and cultural attitudes to mental illness.

• 5.1 Recognise how stigma and discrimination can lead to overwhelming influences on individuals, communities and societies. 
• 5.2 Understand how stereotyping can lead to prejudice, discrimination and inequality. 
• 5.3 Be able to understand the Equality Act 2010 and its relevance to mental health. 

6. Recognise how media is involved in mental ill health.

• 6.1 Identify different types of media sources and how they can influence the perception of mental health. 
• 6.2 Complete exerts from a newspaper article and highlight areas that may account for negative portrayal of mental ill health. 
• 6.3 Understand the impact of stigma in mental ill health.  

7. Define what is meant by the term stress and explain how it affects people.

• 7.1 Understand what stress is and how it is commonly defined. 
• 7.2 Be able to identify what causes stress. 
• 7.3 Identify what causes stress in the workplace. 
• 7.4 Understand how stress can cause harm to the human body. 
• 7.5 Recognise positive signs and symptoms of useful stress ie. Motivation, solving challenges and boosting memory. 
• 7.6 List signs and symptoms of harmful stress. 
• 7.7 Be able to manage stress in the workplace – local and workplace support and self-management.  

8. Understand how anxiety, phobias, depression, bipolar and schizophrenia is a denominator for ill-related mental health.

• 8.1 Describe the difference between anxiety and panic attacks.
• 8.2 Understand when anxiety, phobia, depression, bipolar and schizophrenia becomes a mental health problem. 
• 8.3 Recognise the signs and symptoms of anxiety, phobia, depression, bipolar and schizophrenia. 
• 8.4 Be able to manage an employee who has anxiety, phobia, depression, bipolar or schizophrenia. 
• 8.5 Identify common treatments for anxiety, phobia, depression, bipolar and schizophrenia.  

Unit Two

1.Understand why mental health is not discussed at work.

• 1.1 Be able to understand the increase in mental health in the UK by knowing ratios and statistics based on UK sources of information. 
• 1.2 Describe and provide examples on why mental health is not discussed in the workplace. 
• 1.3 Understand how to recognise and understand mental health problems. 
• 1.4 Be able to support and encourage colleagues, families or friends to discuss mental health. 

2. Be able to recognise other types of legislation that applies to Mental Health UK.

• 2.1 Understanding The Equality Act 2010 and its role with mental health. 
• 2.2 Understanding the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and its relation to care and mental health.
• 2.3 Understand The Mental Health Act (MHA) 1983 and how it applies to your company in the workplace.
• 2.4 Be able to interpret each Act and how they apply to your workplace. 
• 2.5 Know and understand the employer’s and employee’s duty of care in the workplace. 
• 2.6 Be aware of your obligation in the workplace by understanding the importance of confidentiality. 

3. Understanding problems in the workplace as a result of unidentified mental health.

• 3.1 Explain how to recognise a problem in the workplace, including changes to an employee and your own changes as an employee. 
• 3.2 Be able describe how these changes affect the workplace. 
• 3.3 Describe how difficult it is to disclose mental health in the workplace. 
• 3.4 Explain how to start a conversation with a colleague who has a suspected mental health condition. 
• 3.5 Know what advice to provide during a discussion with a colleague, friend or family relative. 
• 3.6 Be able to provide support to an employee who has been away from work or is returning to work. 

4. Be able to implement an action plan to promote recovery of mental ill health.

• 4.1 Understand how the ‘Wellness Action Plan’ (WAP) can help with the recovery process. 
• 4.2 Complete a WAP assessment.
• 4.3 Understand correct reporting procedures for your workplace and who to report to with suspected mental ill health. 
• 4.4 Know how to promote a healthy workplace. 4.5 Be able to empower managers in the workplace. 

5. Be able to understand The Management Standards Approach.

• 5.1 Know what the Management Standards Approach is and how it relates to organisational guidelines.
• 5.2 Understand what ‘Steering Group’ is and who forms part of the group. 
• 5.3 Be able to explain all six areas of the Management Standard and understand them as six stress areas. 
• 5.4 Recognise the importance of gathering and using data 5.4 Define what ‘Focus Groups’ are and why they are recommended by the HSE.