As Self-Harm Awareness Day approaches this Saturday 1st March, businesses across the UK are being urged to prioritise mental health training to combat stigma and provide essential support for employees.
Nathan Shearman, director of therapy and training at Red Umbrella, a workplace mental health training provider, emphasises the critical role of training in reducing the shame often associated with self-harm, challenging misconceptions, and fostering better workplace environments.
“The biggest impact mental health training has when it comes to self-harm is reducing stigma and shame,” says Shearman. “Research from the Samaritans indicates that 90% of people who have self-harmed fear others will think less of them if they knew. This highlights the urgent need for workplaces to create an environment of understanding and support.”
Mental Health First Aid is a key resource in this area, designed to equip trainees to respond to self-harm incidents or concerns empathetically. Shearman explains: “Training teaches individuals not just how to have empathy and compassion but how to show it in a way that is received by those who need it most. This can significantly reduce the fear of judgement and stigma that many individuals struggling with self-harm experience.”
By increasing awareness and knowledge of self-harm, mental health first aiders can help dismantle harmful misconceptions. “Self-harm is often misunderstood, and too many people focus on the act itself rather than recognising it as a coping mechanism,” Shearman notes. “Instead of asking ‘why do you self-harm?’ – which can trigger feelings of shame – training encourages asking ‘what is it you’re trying to cope with?’ This subtle shift can make all the difference in opening up a meaningful conversation.”
Workplace responses to self-harm can have lasting effects on employees’ wellbeing. Without proper training, reactions may be characterised by shock or avoidance, leaving employees feeling isolated. “If an employer or colleague doesn’t know how to respond, they may do nothing for fear of making things worse,” Shearman explains. “However, that first response is critical. It can determine whether an employee has a positive or negative experience in the workplace and can shape how they view their employer.”
Managers play a pivotal role in fostering a supportive workplace culture, and providing them with mental health training ensures they can respond to incidents with confidence and care. “A lack of understanding can lead managers to say the wrong thing, or worse, say nothing at all, leaving employees feeling invalidated. Training empowers managers to approach these situations without shame, blame, or embarrassment,” says Shearman.
Businesses must take proactive steps in providing mental health training for their teams. With one in four people experiencing a mental health problem each year, ensuring workplaces are equipped to support employees is more important than ever.
Creating a culture of mental health awareness can make all the difference, and by increasing support, businesses can play a vital role in creating the more compassionate and understanding workplaces we need.
In related efforts to address mental health challenges, particularly among men, community-based initiatives are gaining momentum. For instance, the Mooroolbark Men’s Shed in Melbourne’s outer east has become a sanctuary for its 45 members. President Peter Gray emphasises the importance of such spaces: “The guys can’t live without it. If they didn’t have this place to come to, with the camaraderie we have here, I don’t think a lot of the guys would survive.” Gray highlights that many members struggle with anxiety and depression, and the shed offers a supportive environment to rebuild confidence and combat isolation.
Clinical psychologist Dr Luke Martin from Beyond Blue underscores the unique challenges older men face: “Older adults are exposed to many difficult life circumstances that put pressure on their mental health and increase their risk of suicide. Things like loneliness, physical illness and injury, chronic pain, grief and bereavement, and losing the ability to work and live.”
Martin advocates for increased mental health literacy among older adults and stresses the importance of reaching out: “We want older Australians to know depression; there is support available, and it’s never too early or too late to reach out.”
