__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mental Health
or anxiety , and also how to signpost them towards appropriate professional help . This is done through active and empathetic listening , being non-judgmental and being confident in knowing how and where they can be referred for more specific intervention , if needed .
Providing your workforce with tips and tricks on how to manage stress , finding coping mechanisms that work to remove anxieties and creating a workplace culture that looks after employees ’ mental wellbeing , will help teams to function better and attract and retain the best people . As a sector we are beginning to understand health in a more holistic way . In the same way that first aid training allows us to recognize and respond to injury and illness , mental health first aid ( MHFA ) teaches the skills needed to recognize and respond to signs and symptoms of low mental wellbeing and common mental health problems .
For example , instead of learning the recovery position and how to treat burns and cuts , MHFA teaches us how to provide initial support for someone struggling with their emotional wellbeing , such as depression
Barriers and stigma
The main barrier to mental health support is the taboo nature and the stigma attached to it . Even though society is becoming more aware of what mental health is and how to look after it , there is still a sense of shame surrounding asking for help and a reluctance to discuss it . With physical first aid the help can often be delivered with more immediacy , with clean results and evidence of intervention . With mental health it could be a long process , so communication and empathy are needed ; skills that are not often given the respect in business that they deserve . For mental health there is no one simple answer and supporting colleagues requires longterm commitment which can feel daunting , especially for fast paced businesses looking for immediate results .
Add to this the battle of rising costs , stretched budgets and lack of resource , it is easy to see why the industry might avoid taking more tasks on . Yet the sector is still suffering with low morale and poor retention rates , which usually leads to a huge number of employees struggling with mental health . On the flipside , the sector is also well known for its great sense of camaraderie and successful food businesses will have created a family environment where everyone looks out for each other . It is this connection that food businesses can draw upon because they will know people well on a personal level and might be able to spot if someone is struggling , which is an asset .
For these businesses , with the right training , they will be able to approach team members in the right way as they have a strong relationship already . More structured
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