Senior leaders play a key role in creating a culture of support and openness, and are responsible for embedding mental health across an organisation. They can influence and provide leadership which helps to progress an organisation's approach to mental health. This piece will help you to make a case for why your organisation needs to commit to mental health.
Use our template presentation.
Use data (e.g. Mind’s physical activity resources and reports).
Refer to campaigns (e.g. Heads Up, Time to Talk Day).
Reference legislation.
Link to your equalities, diversity and inclusion work.
Create an environment that attracts and retains people.
Involve people from across your organisation.
Use case studies.
Think about barriers, objections and questions you may be asked.
Who can support and champion this work with you?
Watch the "Embedding mental health across systems and cultures" panel discussion from Mind’s Mental Health in Sport and Physical Activity Conference (click the video on the right).
Refer to the Mental Health at Work Commitment Standards 1, 2 & 3.
Look at what other organisations are doing.
The Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation paved the way for organisations to make a commitment. Watch the video on the right to find out more.
Obtain input from people across your organisation to ensure your strategy meets the needs and expectations of everyone – see “Involve people meaningfully”.
Use our template Mental Health Strategy
To ensure mental health remains an integral part of your organisation’s work, you could establish an action/working group and/or have at least one mental health lead.
It's definitely not just a 'top-down' strategy. It's important that ideas come from across our organisation.
A mental health action plan will help:
To identify the different steps to deliver your strategy.
List activities you need to do as well as showcase everything you are currently doing or have done.
To share roles and responsibilities across your organisation.
Have one place where all your mental health work is saved.
See progress and celebrate achievements.
Use our template if you don’t have one already. Take inspiration from the action plans of Mental Health Charter signatories. Template action plan
Think how best to promote your mental health commitments.
UK Sport and EIS used World Mental Health Day to launch their mental health strategy and approach to developing a positive mental health environment across the Olympic and Paralympic sport system.
Commitment from the senior team to a wellbeing strategy.
Created and agreed a mental health strategy.
Promoted our mental health strategy across some of our organisation.
Promoted our mental health strategy across the whole of our organisation.
Developed and agreed a mental health action plan.
Shared our mental health action plan with some of our organisation.
Shared our mental health action plan with all of our organisation.
Make a commitment
Track your journey
Involve people meaningfully
Integrate mental health
Be person- centred
Connect & collaborate
Improve knowledge & confidence
Champion mental health
Spot, support & signpost
