Recognising the critical importance of mental health at the workplace, BNF Bank took part in the Richmond Foundation’s Standard Mental Health First Aid at the Workplace initiative. Through this course, the bank’s human resources team and those in managerial and supervisory roles learnt how to assist a co-worker who might be developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Course participants learnt mental health first aid skills that can be applied to help any adult.

BNF Bank’s chief executive officer and managing director, Michael Collis, receiving the Silver Certification from the Richmond Foundation.

“Unfortunately, mental health issues are a reality and it is critical that they are detected and properly addressed. Most people are not trained to look out for and recognise the tell-tale signs,” said Karl Dingli, head of corporate services at BNF Bank.

“Raising awareness levels of common issues and giving staff the tools to apply mental health first aid is another step towards strengthening a culture of understanding where team members feel safe to talk openly and seek help. Fostering an organisational culture of empathy and understanding is very important to the bank and our initiative in collaboration with the Richmond Foundation is a tangible means of achieving this.”

Through the large number of attendees at the course, the bank received a Silver Certification from Richmond Foundation. The bank is now being recognised as an organisation that puts employee well-being at the forefront, promotes mental health  and encourages employees to respond to mental health issues at the workplace in an effective and efficient manner.

The course is based on international guidelines developed using consensus of mental health consumers, carers and professionals from English-speaking developed countries. The 12-hour course tackles the most common mental health difficulties like anxiety, depression, stress, panic attacks and substance use, among others. It also informs participants on how to handle instances of potentially serious crises.

In parallel, through the bank’s efforts to involve staff in the social responsibility actions, November’s Casual Friday also targeted mental health awareness by channeling the staff donation to Mount Carmel Hospital. The hospital’s social activities organising committee provides patients with alternative means of effective therapeutic interventions which will help them to integrate back into the community.