Building an engaged Mental Health First Aid network beyond your wildest Dreams
Lara
Wrote this on, October 23, 2024
Building an engaged wellbeing network is more than just ticking a box; it’s about creating a culture where employees feel genuinely supported. We sat down with Abi Griffin, Head of Colleague Experience at Dreams, to unpack how one of the largest UK bed retailers has taken this mission to heart. Here are the lessons they’ve learned in building a vibrant and impactful wellbeing network with the support of Everymind at Work.
The key numbers:
- Supporting 2,300 employees through the Everymind partnership.
- 18 Mental Health First Aiders across an organisation being supported on the Everymind platform.
- 100% engagement rate on the Everymind Platform since launching the network at Dreams.
“Having the Everymind platform means our champions are supported continuously; they enjoy the development sessions and are more engaged with their role, which translates to better support for our colleagues,”
– Abi Griffin, Head of Colleague Experience
Every successful wellbeing initiative kicks off with a powerful “why.” For Abi, the driving force behind their wellbeing strategy was simple: to create a workplace where people feel comfortable bringing their whole selves.
“We spend so much of our time at work,” Abi noted. “It’s important that you don’t have to leave any part of yourself at the door.” This philosophy laid the groundwork for a strategy and partnership with Everymind that transformed their workplace environment.
When Dreams decided to elevate their wellbeing strategy, they knew they needed a partner who understood the value of comprehensive support for all employees but particularly for their Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) network.
“I didn’t want to just let them loose; I wanted them to be set for success from day one” said Abi.
The journey of building a successful network of MHFAiders at Dreams was not without its challenges. Initially, Dreams struggled to ensure they had the right people in place and to keep them consistently engaged and effective in their roles. The key challenge was finding volunteers who were not only passionate but also adequately prepared to take on such a critical and sensitive responsibility. Without a structured approach, the risk was high that MHFAiders could become overwhelmed, leading to burnout or disengagement.
Recognising this, Dreams sought a solution that would provide ongoing training and support. This is where Everymind stepped in. Dreams partnered with Everymind to establish a comprehensive support system that went beyond the initial training.
The journey with Everymind
1 – Strategic selection of MHFAiders
The journey began with a careful selection process. Dreams didn’t settle for the first volunteers. Instead, they worked with Everymind to create a thorough application process, ensuring that those chosen had the right balance of empathy, resilience, and commitment. This process was vital to forming a diverse team of MHFAiders capable of connecting with employees from various backgrounds.
2 – Initial training and network set up
With Everymind’s guidance, Dreams provided a strong foundation for their MHFAiders through comprehensive initial training. This training covered essential skills such as active listening, recognising signs of mental distress, and knowing when to signpost. However, Dreams knew that initial training was only the start.
3 – Monthly development and upskilling
The real transformation began with Everymind’s platform, which offers continuous development opportunities for the MHFAiders. Through monthly development sessions, MHFAiders remain updated on best practices, new research and effective strategies for handling mental health conversations as well as their own wellbeing. This ongoing learning ensures that the champions feel confident and prepared, rather than isolated or out of their depth.
4 – On-demand support and guidance
One of the critical benefits of the partnership is the on-demand support provided through the Everymind platform. Mental health conversations can be unpredictable and emotionally taxing. The platform allows MHFAiders to access immediate support whenever they face challenging situations.
5 – Tracking progress and measuring impact
The Everymind platform also empowers Dreams to measure the impact of their MHFAider network. By logging conversations and outcomes, the platform provides valuable data that helps both Dreams and Everymind assess what’s working and where improvements are needed. This data-driven approach means the support is tailored and responsive, rather than generic or one-size-fits-all.
6 – Creating a sustainable, engaged network
Thanks to Everymind’s support, Dreams has built a sustainable network of engaged MHFAiders who feel valued and supported. The champions are not just static roles but dynamic parts of the organisation, evolving alongside the needs of their colleagues.
By addressing the initial challenges of engagement, burnout, and lack of support, Everymind has enabled Dreams to create a thriving network of MHFAiders. The ongoing service providing, both through training and real-time assistance, has ensured that the champions remain a proactive force within the organisation, truly making a difference in the mental health landscape at Dreams. As Abi put it,
The best thing about Everymind is that our champions are continuously supported, with someone available to chat if they’ve had a difficult conversation, ensuring they can continue to support their colleagues effectively.
Convincing leadership at Dreams to invest in wellbeing required more than just good intentions; it needed clear, data-driven evidence. With the help of Everymind, Dreams built their case by showing how wellbeing initiatives directly impact key business metrics. They analysed employee surveys, absenteeism and turnover data, revealing that employees engaged in wellbeing programs took fewer sick days and were more likely to stay with the company. Additionally, they showed that supporting employee wellbeing boosts engagement, leading to higher job satisfaction and better performance.
To strengthen their argument, Dreams highlighted the potential return on investment (ROI), citing studies that show every pound invested in wellbeing could return up to £4.70 through reduced absenteeism and turnover. By aligning these benefits with the company’s core values, Dreams framed wellbeing not just as a benefit, but as a vital part of their business strategy. Combining hard data and real-life stories, they successfully secured leadership support to make wellbeing a priority.
Data isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a game-changer. With the Everymind platform, Dreams were able to see exactly what’s happening across their network, from the most common themes discussed to areas needing more focus.
“The platform allows us to see what is happening out there, how our colleagues are feeling, and adjust our strategy to better support them. It’s a data dream,” Abi shared.
This real-time insight means they’re not waiting a year to evaluate – they’re tweaking and improving as they go.
For companies with a spread-out workforce, reaching everyone isn’t easy. From posters of champions with personal bios to cheeky campaigns like “Grab Your Nuts” for testicular health awareness, they’ve shown that creativity can break down barriers and spark conversations. This holistic and innovative approach, with the support of Everymind, has made the ‘unreachable’ employees feel not-so-unreachable. Using a variety of channels; internal social media, printed magazines, personalised emails and word-of-mouth of the MHFA network, Dreams were able to get the wellbeing message out, whether employees are in the factory, the head office or out in the field.
“Our champions feel empowered to make a difference. They know they have the support of the Everymind platform, whether they need guidance after a tough conversation or help planning their next initiative,” Abi emphasised.
Key challenges
Selecting and supporting the right MHFAiders
- Challenge: Initially, Dreams struggled to find the right MHFAiders who could handle the sensitive responsibilities of the role. Engagement and burnout were significant concerns due to the demanding nature of mental health conversations.
- Outcome: Through Everymind’s robust recruitment process and ongoing training, Dreams built a well-prepared, diverse MHFAider network. Ongoing development sessions and on-demand support ensure that champions remain engaged, confident and proactive.
Tracking and measuring impact
- Challenge: Without comprehensive tracking, it was difficult for Dreams to measure the impact of the MHFAider network and adjust strategies to meet employee needs.
- Outcome: Everymind’s platform enabled Dreams to track progress in real-time, providing data-driven insights into common issues and areas requiring more support. This allowed Dreams to refine their wellbeing strategy, ensuring that it remains responsive and effective.
Getting leadership buy-in
- Challenge: Dreams needed evidence to include in a business case for leadership buy-in, they needed data that demonstrated these programs and the partnership would deliver tangible business benefits.
- Outcome: By working with Everymind, Dreams presented data showing reduced absenteeism, improved retention and higher employee engagement, all tied to wellbeing programs. This secured leadership buy-in and embedded wellbeing as a core part of the company’s business strategy.
Engaging a multi-site workforce
- Challenge: Reaching employees in dispersed locations and engaging those less likely to seek support was difficult.
- Outcome: With creative campaigns and a variety of communication channels, supported by Everymind, Dreams successfully engaged even the most remote employees, creating a connected and supportive work environment for all.
Dreams’ approach to building an engaged Mental Health First Aid network isn’t just about checking off boxes; it’s about creating a culture of genuine care and proactive support. With Everymind’s partnership, Dreams has not proven their commitment to employee wellbeing but also ensured continuous support and development for their champions. This comprehensive strategy, combined with Everymind’s platform and on-demand resources, has allowed for a positive and forward-thinking culture around mental health.
As Abi Griffin reminds us, an engaged and well-supported network of mental health champions doesn’t just support; it transforms the workplace into a safe, inclusive space where everyone can thrive.
If you’re interested in learning more about how we helped Dreams build a successful MHFA network, please get in touch here.
