Mental health challenges can take a heavy toll on both people and performance. But in busy workplaces, the signs are easy to miss.
What should you actually look out for? Here are six tangible signs your workplace could benefit from having a Mental Health First Responder.
Staff calling in sick more often? Or showing up but struggling to focus and get work done?
Stress, anxiety and burnout are leading contributors to time lost in New Zealand workplaces.
Someone trained in mental health first response can help spot early warning signs before issues escalate.
When people don’t feel supported, they leave.
Exit interviews citing stress, workload or “culture,” shrinking average tenure, and hard-to-fill roles are all indicators.
Mental health first aid addresses challenges earlier, boosts job satisfaction and shows wellbeing is more than a box to tick.
Training also builds resilience skills, helping staff cope with pressure before it reaches breaking point.
If staff only raise concerns when they’re resigning, breaking down or already burnt out, issues aren’t being addressed early enough.
Another clue: engagement surveys with minimal honest feedback, or team meetings that go quiet when wellbeing is mentioned.
A trained mental health responder normalises conversations and signals it’s safe to talk before problems spiral.
Supporting mental wellbeing is not just a people issue; it’s a health & safety one.
Stressed or mentally distracted staff are more prone to accidents and mistakes, which impacts productivity, compliance and risk.
A rise in near-misses, quality errors or incident reports that mention “rushing,” “fatigue,” or “distraction” can all be red flags.
Missed deadlines, emotional withdrawal, reduced initiative and long hours with declining output.
These aren’t just personal problems - they’re organisational signals to check in on workload and step in with support.
A trained mental health responder knows how to listen non-judgmentally and guide someone to the right help.
Repeated short-notice absences without clear causes can mask mental health struggles, especially when clustered around high-pressure periods or after conflicts.
A mental health responder can provide a confidential first point of contact so issues surface earlier and staff get help sooner.
Mental health can feel intangible at work. But, just like a physical first aid course, you can learn simple, practical skills that make a real difference.
Our 100% online Mental Health First Responders Course is designed for New Zealand workplaces and gives your team the skills, knowledge and emotional resilience to recognise early signs of distress and step in before challenges escalate.
Ready to learn more? Explore Heart Saver's Online Mental Health First Responders Course and enrol your team today.
If you have any questions, please contact our team.
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