Traditional first aid is now “dangerously outdated” claims St John Ambulance
Traditional first aid is now “dangerously outdated” claims St John Ambulance
The first aid charity St John Ambulance has shifted the emphasis of its operations towards mental health, calling in particular for workplaces to change their approaches to first aid.
First aid, St John Ambulance has said, is no longer just about treating physical illness or injury, or maintaining emergency first aid kits, but making sure there is a holistic response including attention to both physical and mental health first aid.
The changing focus comes in response to how almost half of all sick leave among UK employees is reportedly due to stress, anxiety and depression (16.4 million of 33.7 million days of absence between 2023 and 2024). Of the £21.6 billion cost of absence to employers during 2022-2023, £7.1 billion was the result of workplace injury, more than £14 billion to illness.
The new duty of care
With the changing landscape of employee health, HR teams need to be certain they are meeting the legal duty around ensuring employees are provided with a ‘safe’ working environment, one where reasonable care has been taken to prevent personal injury — which includes harm to mental health.
Lisa Sharman, Head of Education at St John Ambulance, said: “Workplaces that do not upgrade their approach to first aid to incorporate mental health first aid, and a focus on mental wellbeing, are in significant danger of failing to provide holistic care for their employees.”
Professional first
EAPA UK chair, Karl Bennett said: “The rise in the use of Mental Health First Aid — identifying signs of mental health issues and providing initial support and guidance to professional help when it’s needed — is clearly a positive development. It’s making it easier for staff to have a first conversation, and an early conversation, about any concerns, and to be signposted to advice from professionals like those available through an EAP.
“But, crucially, MHFAs have only been equipped with the training to provide that initial signposting and nothing more. MHFAs can only ever be one element in a package of measures that provide preventative and reactive support.”