Is someone on your team struggling with their mental health? It can be hard to spot – and even harder to know how to respond.

For many small businesses without an HR team, knowing how to respond can feel overwhelming. Even larger organisations can feel confused or fearful of doing the wrong thing.

But doing nothing isn’t the answer. Unaddressed mental health challenges affect not just the individual, but the entire team, impacting morale, productivity, and workplace culture.

Mental Health First Aid gives you the tools to recognise when someone’s struggling – and the confidence to respond with care – so you can create a healthier, more resilient team where everyone feels supported.

What is Mental Health First Aid?

Mental Health First Aid, or first response, is the initial response to someone who may be experiencing mental health challenges.

Learning how to recognise early signs of mental distress, and how to respond appropriately, is essential for fostering a supportive, healthy workplace. Mental Health First Aid teaches you exactly how to do this.

It’s not about being a therapist or having all the answers. As a business owner, leader, manager or colleague, it’s about learning how to recognise when someone is struggling and providing practical mental health support in a calm, supportive, and effective way.

Just like physical first aid, Mental Health First Aid focuses on practical, immediate support and skills: recognising the signs of distress, checking in, listening non-judgmentally, and guiding individuals to the appropriate professional help if necessary.

Why it matters in the workplace

It’s simple: whether you run a small team or lead a large organisation, your people are your biggest asset. Mental health struggles don’t just affect the individual –  they affect team wellbeing, culture, performance, and retention.

Employees who feel supported are more likely to stay engaged and productive. By learning how to recognise mental distress and respond appropriately, you build a workplace culture where everyone feels supported.  But just as importantly, creating a mentally healthy workplace is simply the right thing to do. It signals to your team that they matter not just as workers, but as people.

Workplaces that actively engage with mental health are more likely to prevent issues from escalating, reduce stigma, and create an environment where people feel safe to speak up.

Introducing Heart Saver’s Mental Health First Responders Course

At Heart Saver, we’ve partnered with Behaviour Change Specialist Dr Louise Schofield and Professor of Public Health Grant Schofield to create an online mental health workplace training designed specifically for New Zealand workplaces.

Grounded in the latest psychological research and delivered by experts across the health and mental health sectors, this course teaches practical, science-backed approaches to support others –  and take care of yourself, too.

Key outcomes include:

• Immediate, practical support: Learn what to do in a mental health crisis.

• Resilience and prevention: Explore tools for managing stress and building emotional strength.

• Confidence in action: Know how to respond to mental health issues with clarity and compassion.

The course is designed for non-clinicians and is suitable for managers, team leaders, and anyone who wants to play a proactive role in supporting mental wellbeing at work.

And it’s not just workplaces — this course is also a great fit for schools, community organisations, and anyone who wants to support mental wellbeing in everyday life.

A small step that makes a big difference

Mental health first aid isn’t about having all the answers – it’s about showing up with care, confidence, and calm. In today’s workplaces, that can make all the difference.

Whether you’re a team of five or five hundred, knowing how to respond when someone is struggling is no longer optional – it’s essential.

Learn more or enrol in the Mental Health First Responders Course today.