Course Talk: Keith Dewey explains the impact of poor mental health on the workplace
At the end of March, I was fortunate to attend UK Training’s first online presentation of our brand new course: Mental Health in the Workplace. It was presented by Keith Dewey, who as well as being an experienced trainer, is a graduate member of the British Psychological Society, NLP Practitioner, registered member of the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council and has trained in a wide range of mental health therapies.
A different approach...
Although our online setup is now familiar to most of our customers, subject matter of this nature necessitated a different approach. Keith made it clear that the training environment was intended to be a ‘safe space’ where work-related scenarios could be discussed honestly, openly and confidentially insofar as delegates were prepared to share. He also gave advice on what steps to take if the subject matter left anyone feeling overcome at any point. This clearly made delegates comfortable to share experiences of mental health-related incidents at work and ideas for coping strategies, resulting in a fully engaging and interactive experience for everyone.
The host, David Smith, kept things moving along nicely, fielding questions from delegates sensitively and demonstrating a good understanding with our expert presenter.
What did the course cover?
Keith began by giving practical Tricks for Calm and advice on reducing stress in difficult situations. He explained how a particular technique devised by the US military can be very useful in a workplace setting as it is simple, easy to remember and can be applied quickly.
He then went on to describe the different types of mental illness and how the symptomatic behaviours can impact on performance, outcomes, safety and relationships at the workplace. An important point Keith made was that employers have certain legal obligations to be aware of employees’ mental wellbeing and make adjustments to working conditions or practices where appropriate.
The issues raised that were causing most concern for delegates were how to recognise signs of stress or depression, dealing with external non-work influences on employees, dealing with conflicts and knowing when an issue becomes a disciplinary matter or a support need.
In the final part of the course, Keith outlined a practical framework for developing a system of support for employees and adopting a strategic approach for the organisation to deal with mental health issues. Mental Health First Aiders are a useful addition to this approach but Keith emphasised the importance of acting early and strategically to prevent such issues becoming emergencies to which MHFAs have to respond.
A particularly helpful and well-received aspect of the course was the numerous additional checklist and action plans that were included - providing attendees with some real practical resources to start putting what they'd learnt into practice.
The feedback from delegates was excellent and there were many glowing comments, with one saying... "Excellent! I found this really helpful and the extra paperwork is a great help to take away. Even better than expected." and another commenting "This course has really opened up my way of thinking on the topic. It was really well communicated and really detailed."
Why should you attend this course?
The issue of mental wellbeing at work is one of growing importance to employers. There are significant drivers including government guidance, case law and social pressure. Social pressure is increasing because of the ongoing impact of the Coronavirus pandemic and increased education, especially amongst younger people.
If you are a director or senior manager, work in HR, health & safety or have a responsibility for managing people then you will be aware of the need to understand how your organisation deals with mental health issues. Our next presentation of Mental Health in the Workplace will take place in London on 16th May – see here for more details and all future dates.
Written by Paul Murphy
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