Your team are MHFA trained. What next?

Offering Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training is a fantastic step toward creating a mentally healthy workplace. But what happens after the certificates are issued and your team members become accredited MHFAiders? To truly harness the potential of this training, organisations need to move beyond a tick-box approach and embed MHFA into their workplace culture.

Here’s how you can build on your MHFA training, recognise your team’s efforts, and create a supportive, thriving environment.

1. Recognise Your MHFA Trained Workforce

Training employees in MHFA equips them with skills to recognise, respond to, and support mental health challenges in the workplace. Make sure their contribution is visible and celebrated.

Ways to Recognise and Celebrate:

  • Skilled Workforce Recognition Program: MHFA Australia’s Workplace Recognition Program celebrates organisations for their commitment to embedding Mental Health First Aid in their organisational culture.

  • Spread the Word:

    • Publicly acknowledge your trained MHFAiders in workplace inductions and team meetings.

    • Encourage MHFAiders to add their credentials to email signatures.

    • Provide lapel pins, laptop stickers or badges for MHFAiders to wear at work.

    • Display posters or digital notices on the intranet or SharePoint about the role of MHFAiders and how they can support colleagues (similar to how First Aiders and Fire Wardens are displayed).

    • Create a Mental Health Strategy and embed MHFA into workplace policies.

2. Provide Support for Your MHFAiders

While MHFAiders are trained to provide support, they also need resources and backing to perform their role effectively. Create an ecosystem that helps them succeed.

How to Support MHFAiders:

  • Schedule regular check-ins to debrief, share challenges, and provide feedback.

  • Offer access to additional resources, like Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) or peer-based support.

  • Be supportive around boundary setting to prevent burnout and clarify their responsibilities.

3. Build a Culture of Peer-to-Peer Support

MHFA training is most impactful when it’s part of a broader workplace culture of care. Encourage peer-to-peer support and ongoing mental health awareness.

Practical Steps:

  • Encourage check-ins among teams to normalise open conversations about wellbeing.

  • Create safe spaces or wellbeing rooms where employees can take a break or seek help.

  • Promote R U OK? Day or similar initiatives to spark meaningful conversations about mental health.

4. Track Impact Through Monitoring and Evaluation

To understand the effectiveness of your MHFA program, implement systems to track its impact on your workplace.

Key Metrics to Track:

  • Number of MHFA conversations or interventions.

  • Changes in absenteeism, presenteeism, or turnover rates.

  • Employee feedback on the program through surveys or focus groups.

Regularly review and refine the program to ensure it meets your organisation’s needs.

5. Upskill Your Workforce

Mental health challenges evolve, and so should your organisation’s approach. Offer opportunities for further learning and upskilling to keep MHFAiders engaged and informed.

Upskilling Opportunities:

  • Advanced MHFA training modules (e.g., Conversations About Gambling, Conversations About Suicide).

  • Bespoke training on specific topics, like Maintaining MHFA Boundaries or Self-Care.

  • Workshops on building resilience, stress management, or fostering psychological safety.

6. Host Wellbeing Events and Programs

Mental health awareness shouldn’t be confined to MHFA training—it should be part of a broader workplace wellbeing strategy.

Ideas for Wellbeing Initiatives:

  • Mental Health Awareness Campaigns: Host talks or webinars with mental health experts.

  • Team Wellbeing Activities: Yoga, mindfulness sessions, or fitness challenges.

Your Next Steps

By embedding MHFA into your workplace culture, you’ll create a supportive environment where employees feel empowered to seek and offer help. Recognising your MHFAiders, supporting them in their role, and building on the foundations of the training will ensure that your investment in mental health is more than just a box ticked—it’s a catalyst for meaningful change.

If you’re ready to take your workplace mental health strategy to the next level, reach out for tailored advice or additional training solutions. Together, let’s build a workplace where mental health is everyone’s priority.

Roisin Trainor