Would You Know What to Do in a Mental Health Crisis at Work?
How common are mental health problems?
Did you know that one in four people in the UK will have a mental health problem at some point?
Mental health problems are common and in 2023/24, 46% of all new and long-standing cases of work-related ill health were attributed to stress, depression, or anxiety.
Types of mental ill health
Some common types of mental ill health include:
- Anxiety
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
You can find out more about different types of mental health problems here Mental health problems | What types are there? – Mind – Mind
What is a mental health crisis?
A mental health crisis can manifest in the following ways:
- Panic attacks – sudden and intense feelings of fear and panic. Symptoms may feel like a heart attack to the person experiencing a panic attack.
- Flashbacks – when a traumatic or intrusive memory is relived or reexperienced.
- Psychosis – when a person loses touch with reality, they may not know what is real and what is not. They may experience hallucinations or delusions.
- Suicidal feelings
- Self- harm
- Mania – Abnormally elevated mood or behaviour.
A mental health crisis can present differently from person to person. A crisis occurs when a person is in need of urgent help. The type of help the person needs can vary from just needing a supportive listener to needing to be admitted to A&E.
How Can I Help?
Whilst the support needed for the individual having a crisis can vary from person to person, here are some things you can do to assist a colleague.
- Do not be afraid to talk to the person and be open to listening.
- If they have previously disclosed mental ill health to you, educate yourself on how this affects them.
- Help your colleague to make an appointment with a medical professional if needed, or ask if there is someone you can call e.g. a family member or a trusted friend.
- Consider if your colleague has made an advance statement that outlines the type of care they prefer to receive in a crisis.
- Assess the risk of suicide or self- harm. You may need to call emergency services and remove any objects they could use to hurt themselves.
An employer's responsibilities
Whilst at work, employers have a ‘duty of care’ to employees to reduce workplace stress and put safeguards in place for managing stress at work. This means that employers must consider workplace stress when conducting risk assessments.
Employers may need to use reasonable adjustments to support employees dealing with mental health issues to be able to work.
The importance of mental health first aid
Understanding mental health first aid can make the difference when it comes to supporting employees experiencing mental health crises.
By becoming a qualified mental health first aider, you can have the confidence that you will have the knowledge and skills needed to support someone safely through a mental health crisis.
