What happens when someone chooses to speak up?
Workplaces have made meaningful progress in bringing mental health conversations into the open, but awareness is only part of the equation. When a colleague shares that they are struggling, or when we notice a change that causes us concern, many of us genuinely want to help but aren’t always sure how.
For people to feel comfortable sharing their experiences, they also need to know those experiences will be met with empathy and support.
Why do we hesitate when someone may be struggling?
Through the Certified Mental Health Supporter Program, we have the opportunity to measure and observe the gap between wanting to support someone and feeling confident about how to do it. Participants often enter the program already caring deeply about mental health, yet realistic scenarios quickly surface questions many of us can relate to: What if I say the wrong thing? Is it my place to ask? What happens if they tell me something I don’t know how to handle?
Kelly Sovinski, Benefits and Wellness Analyst at Cabinetworks Group, experienced that realization herself:
“One of the most humbling takeaways for me was realizing that my confidence in addressing mental health concerns was not as strong as I had assumed. This experience provided me with practical skills and a greater sense of preparedness.”
Kelly’s experience reflects something we regularly see. Caring about mental health, having our own lived experiences, or regularly supporting others does not necessarily mean we will know what to say or do when a difficult moment arises. Those are skills we can learn and practice.
What does it actually mean to support someone?
Building confidence does not mean teaching employees to diagnose mental health conditions, provide counseling, or have the perfect response to every situation. Knowing the boundaries of the role is part of being an effective supporter.
As we explored in a blog earlier this year, Mental Health Supporters are not counselors or therapists. They are compassionate colleagues equipped with the knowledge and tools to recognize signs of distress, provide empathetic support, and guide others toward professional resources.
Through realistic case studies and repeated application, participants practice what that looks like. They consider how they might begin a conversation, listen without judgment, and determine when and how to connect someone with additional support, including resources available through their Employee Assistance Program.
Working through different scenarios gives participants a structure they can return to when a real situation arises, rather than expecting them to instinctively know the right thing to say.
Dr. Jennifer Birdsall, ComPsych’s Chief Clinical Officer, saw that development firsthand when she participated in a recent cohort, noting that she could see the “real-time learning and growth from the participants” throughout the experience.
Conversations about mental health can be difficult, personal and unpredictable. Training does not change that reality, but it can give people a clearer sense of their role and what they can do next.
What changes when that confidence exists across an organization?
The opportunity becomes even greater when these skills extend beyond one individual.
When employees see that mental health can be discussed openly and appropriately, speaking up and seeking help can become a more normal part of the workplace experience.
This does not make colleagues responsible for solving one another’s challenges. It means organizations can have more people who understand their role when a colleague needs support.
Today, more than 660 Certified Mental Health Supporters are bringing these skills into organizations and communities across industries worldwide.
Does the learning end at certification?
Certification provides a strong foundation, but the circumstances influencing our mental health don’t stand still. Global events, changes within our communities and workplaces, emerging technology, and individual circumstances continually shape what people are experiencing.
That is why we created the CMHSP Community around a simple belief: training builds capability, but community sustains it.
The Community brings graduates back together around the shared mission of championing mental health and exploring what that looks like within the current landscape. Since its launch, conversations have explored Human Connection in the Age of AI, Growth Mindset, and practical ways supporters can continue strengthening their skills.
As the world around us changes, so do the situations our supporters encounter. The Community gives them an opportunity to continue learning from one another while maintaining a focus on something that remains fundamental to our wellbeing, meaningful human connection.
What would it look like to move from awareness to action?
World Mental Health Day gives us an opportunity to listen to real voices and lived experiences. It also asks us to consider how we respond to what we hear.
Awareness has helped open the door to more honest conversations about mental health. The next step is making sure people have the skills to participate in those conversations when they happen.
Real change does not require any one of us to have all the answers. It can start with noticing, asking, listening and knowing where to turn next.
When we know we aren’t alone in experiencing struggles, we can also recognize that we don’t have to navigate them alone.
Awareness is the first step. Certification is the next. Through October 31, organizations save 10% on any CMHSP seat package (20, 50 or 200 seats). Learn more about the Certified Mental Health Supporter Program or email [email protected].
