Signals are missed
Early signs of strain are often noticed informally but not recognized, discussed or acted on until the situation escalates.
Psychological Health & SafetyRequest a consultationMHFR@Work™ — Workplace Response Capability
Build workplace response capability.
MHFR@Work™ equips people to recognize workplace distress signals early, respond appropriately and escalate safely—and helps organizations build a structured workplace response system.
THE RESPONSE GAP
Good intentions are not a response system.
When someone is struggling, many workplaces still depend on individual confidence, informal judgment or a quick EAP referral. The result is inconsistent response, unclear boundaries and avoidable risk.
Roles are unclear
Managers and colleagues want to help, but may be unsure what to say, what sits within their role or when to escalate.
Pathways are fragmented
Support may exist, yet the route from concern to conversation, referral, urgent response and follow-up is rarely clear.
ONE PROGRAM. TWO OUTPUTS.
Capable people. A stronger organizational response.
MHFR@Work™ does not stop at teaching an individual what to say. It connects responder skill with the workplace structures needed for safe and consistent action.
Individual capability
Participants learn to recognize signs, start supportive conversations, assess need, maintain boundaries and connect people to appropriate support.
- Early recognition
- Safe conversations
- Role clarity
- Appropriate escalation
Organizational response capability
Participants translate their learning into the first draft of a structured workplace response system—clarifying who responds, how concerns move through the organization, when escalation happens and what must happen next.
- Defined response roles
- Response & escalation pathways
- Confidentiality & documentation
- Implementation priorities
THE RESPONSE ARCHITECTURE
See early. Respond safely. Escalate appropriately.
Three practical tools give responders a shared language and a clear route from an early signal to the right level of support.
SEEColour Check™
Recognize early
Make changes in psychological strain easier to notice, name and discuss before they become a bigger concern.
- Notice changes
- Understand the signal
- Choose the next step
RESPONDBRAVE™
Respond appropriately
Use a practical, person-led structure to recognize what is happening, start a safe conversation, assess what is needed and connect the person to the right support.
- Be Aware
- Reach Out
- Assess the Need
- Validate & Support
- Engage Help / Next Steps
ESCALATEACT
Act safely when risk is urgent
Prioritize immediate safety, provide calm support and transfer responsibility to the right professional or emergency support.
- Assess immediate safety
- Contain & support
- Transfer responsibility
THE LEARNING JOURNEY
From recognition to reliable workplace response.
The learning journey moves participants from understanding individual signals to practicing response and strengthening the system around them.
Recognize early
Understand mental health and psychosocial risk, notice changes and use Colour Check™ to make early signs easier to discuss.
01 — Understand the context02 — Recognize distress signalsRespond appropriately
Use BRAVE™ for supportive conversations, ACT for urgent concerns and clear decision guides for escalation and referral.
03 — Supportive response04 — Escalation & supportBuild everyday capability
Strengthen responder boundaries, personal sustainability and the organizational practices that make response more consistent.
05 — Responder sustainability06 — Response-system designPARTICIPANT CAPABILITY
What participants leave able to do.
The aim is not to create mental health experts. It is to develop confident workplace responders who can act safely, appropriately and within their role.
- 01
Recognize early signs of psychosocial distress
- 02
Distinguish everyday strain from an urgent concern
- 03
Start supportive conversations with confidence
- 04
Apply BRAVE™ within clear workplace boundaries
- 05
Use ACT when immediate safety may be at risk
- 06
Escalate, refer and document appropriately
- 07
Contribute to a reliable workplace response system
ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN LAB
Build the first draft of your workplace response system.
Participants leave with the first draft of a workplace response policy and system blueprint—clarifying roles, response pathways, escalation, confidentiality and implementation priorities.
Response roles
Who notices, responds, advises, escalates and oversees the system.
Response routes
A clear pathway from an early signal to conversation, support and follow-up.
Escalation & referral
Decision points for internal support, professional help and urgent response.
Confidentiality
Simple principles for privacy, information sharing and role-appropriate records.
Critical incidents
A starting protocol for suicide concerns, panic and emotional overwhelm.
Implementation priorities
Practical next steps for strengthening the system after the program.
TWO PRACTICAL DAYS
Learn it. Practice it. Design for the workplace.
MHFR@Work™ combines clear teaching with demonstrations, workplace scenarios, practice labs and structured system design.
Learn
Understand workplace mental health, psychosocial risk and the responder role.
Practice
Work through demonstrations, guided conversations and realistic workplace scenarios.
Design
Use the system-design lab to build the first draft of your organizational response blueprint.
Plan
Leave with practical tools and priorities for applying the capability in everyday work.
DESIGNED FOR WORK
Not mental health experts. Confident workplace responders.
The program is suited to people who may notice, receive or respond to concerns as part of their workplace role.
- HR and People teams
- Line managers and team leaders
- Health and safety practitioners
- Wellness champions and peer supporters
- Employees in designated response roles
BUILD RESPONSE CAPABILITY
Request a consultation ↗When someone is struggling, your people should know what happens next.
Let’s explore the right MHFR@Work™ approach for your organization.