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July 10, 2025
Your employee calls in sick again.
But this time, it's not the flu—it's anxiety that's keeping them awake at night and making it impossible to face another day at work.
We’ve come a long way from the old days where you just had to lump feeling bad and turn up to work anyway, but it was clearly unproductive, unsafe, and unprofitable, usually causing more problems than doing good.
It’s good we’ve taken such strides, but it’s still an issue. The problem now is that poor mental health costs UK employers £51 billion every year, and it's getting worse.
One in six workers are struggling with mental health problems right now, leading to 16.4 million lost working days annually.
Here's the thing: we've trained staff in physical first aid for decades, but when someone's having a panic attack or showing signs of depression, most managers freeze. They don't know what to say or do—and that's where mental health first aid comes in.
Mental health first aid is a training framework that teaches your staff how to spot the warning signs when a colleague is struggling and how to help them until professional support kicks in.
Think of it like regular first aid, but for mental health.
It's not about turning your employees into therapists. It's about giving them the confidence to have a conversation that could genuinely save someone's life.
The training covers practical skills like:
Over 1 million people across the UK have already been trained, and it’s helping. Not only do businesses profit and have a stronger, more resilient workforce, but people are able to live genuinely more peaceful, productive, and happier lives.
The results speak for themselves.
Every £1 you invest in mental health support returns £5 to your business.
That's not wishful thinking—that's hard data from multiple studies.
Here's what organisations with mental health first aid programs see:
But the real kicker?
72% of younger workers won't even consider jobs with employers who don't prioritise mental health. Miss out on mental health training, and you're missing out on talent.
The construction industry has faced stark realities.Major contractors now make mental health first aid as standard as hard hats.
The result?
Fewer accidents, better productivity, and workers who actually want to come to work.
Right now, mental health first aid isn't legally required.
But that's changing fast.
MPs have been pushing for mental health first aid to become as mandatory as physical first aid. The "Where's Your Head At?" campaign has over 200,000 signatures backing this change.
It's not a matter of if—it's when.
But here's what most employers don't realise: you're already legally responsible for your employees' mental health. The Health and Safety at Work Act covers mental health too.
The HSE now recommends having as many mental health first aiders as physical first aiders.
Get ahead of the curve now, and you'll be ready when the law changes.
You don't need to train everyone at once. Start with 1 mental health first aider for every 10-15 employees. Look for volunteers—people who are naturally good listeners and genuinely want to help.
Costs run £125-£325 per person, and certification lasts three years.
Training is just the start. You need policies that protect confidentiality, clear referral paths to professional help, and—crucially—a culture where it's okay to not be okay.
Make sure everyone knows who your mental health first aiders are and how to find them. Some companies use discrete badges or add them to email signatures.
TAC Healthcare's comprehensive first aid training courses provide the practical foundation your workplace needs to support employee wellbeing effectively.
Our Mental Health First Aid programme equips your team with evidence-based skills to recognise early warning signs, offer immediate support, and guide colleagues toward appropriate professional help.
Whether you choose their half-day Awareness course (£185) for broad team understanding, the full-day Mental Health First Aid course (£250) for designated first aiders, or the two-day Supervising course (£520) for managers, each programme is tailored to create a supportive workplace environment.
These courses integrate seamlessly into your existing health and safety framework, giving employees the confidence to intervene positively during mental health crises while reducing workplace stigma.
With TAC's workplace-focused approach, you're not just training individuals—you're building a culture where mental health support becomes as natural and accessible as physical first aid.
Three months after training mental health first aiders, here's what companies typically see:
"Our staff will think we're prying into their personal lives"
Actually, employees appreciate knowing support is available. It shows you care about them as people, not just productivity machines.
"What if our first aiders get overwhelmed?"
Proper training teaches clear boundaries. First aiders learn when to listen and when to escalate. They're not carrying the weight of the world—they're being a bridge to professional help.
"This sounds expensive"
Remember that £5 return on every £1 invested? Factor in reduced recruitment costs from better retention, fewer sick days, and improved productivity. It pays for itself quickly.
Mental health first aid isn't just a nice-to-have anymore—it's table stakes for any employer who wants to attract and keep good people.
Start by identifying who in your organisation would make good mental health first aiders. Think about natural listeners, people others gravitate toward when they're struggling, or those who've shown interest in wellbeing initiatives.
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.
Want expert help getting started?
TAC Healthcare provides professional mental health first aid training that integrates seamlessly with your existing health and safety framework.
Contact today to discuss training options tailored to your organisation. Because supporting your team's mental health isn't just the right thing to do—it's the smart thing to do.
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