Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Modern Workplace
Understand the pressures of the modern workplace, and learn what you can do to promote mental wellbeing in your organisation.
Duration
3 weeksWeekly study
2 hours
Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Modern Workplace
Join the conversation and help break down stigma in the workplace
Organisations are beginning to realise that the mental health of their employees is as crucial as their physical health. Changes in our moods, emotions, and stress levels can dramatically affect our ability to achieve employment goals.
On this three-week course from the Mental Health Foundation, you’ll learn more about the importance of psychological wellbeing. From the impact of stress and burnout to legal issues around the duty of care, you’ll gain the knowledge you need to promote an open and healthy working environment.
Discuss the mental health continuum and what it means for the workplace
Psychologists now see our mental health as existing on a continuum, which ranges from thriving, through surviving, to crisis. Any movement along this continuum will impact our motivation and productivity.
In Week 1 of the course, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the mental health continuum and the wider landscape of mental health in the workplace and beyond.
Investigate the impact of stress and burnout at work
Burnout is a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion. Early intervention and stress management is essential to prevent employees from reaching this state.
Examining real case studies of stress and burnout, you’ll learn how to notice and act when a colleague is overworked.
Develop strategies for creating a psychologically safe hybrid workplace
In a hybrid working environment, it can be even harder to spot when a colleague is struggling. As they introduce you to best practices for promoting psychological safety, your course leaders will pay particular attention to the mental pressures of the hybrid workplace.
You’ll finish the course with the safeguarding and sensitivity training you need to support your colleagues and make a difference on an individual level.
Syllabus
Week 1
Developing Understanding
Introduction: our work and why it matters
Welcome to the course! In this first activity, we will introduce ourselves and the course, then look at the reasons why mental health is a workplace issue.
Understanding Mental Health
In this activity, we will deepen our understanding of what mental health is and define some of the terminology around this.
Stress
Stress is a feeling which has a huge impact on our wellbeing. In this activity, we will look at the role of stress in the workplace.
The role of stigma in worsening the mental health epidemic
We have seen how prevalent poor mental health is and that the decline in mental health is a trend which is continuing globally. If poor mental health in the workplace is so widespread, why are so many people not talking about it?
Social determinants of mental health
We are all susceptible to experiencing mental health issues in our lives. However, some people are more susceptible than others. In this activity, we will look at some of the mental health inequalities that exist in society.
Week 2
Developing a psychologically safe environment
The principles of a psychologically safe workplace
An employer needs to set the conditions in which an employee can thrive, both professionally and personally. This week, we will take a closer look at how we can put our understanding and principles into action.
Key policies for supporting mental health in the workplace
In this activity, we will look at some of systems and policies workplaces need to support mental health. Support is only effective if employees know it is available, where to access it and can utilise it without fear.
Boundaries in the workplace
In this activity, we will explore the necessity for boundaries in the ever-changing workplace in order to protect our wellbeing and how to communicate these boundaries effectively.
Creating a network of social support
The relationships we make and maintain in the workplace are crucial. In this activity, we will look at how robust networks of social support can protect mental health.
Week 3
Developing skills
Noticing the signs of poor mental health
This week, we aim to empower you to support the mental wellbeing of your colleagues through the development of all-important interpersonal skills. We begin with the art of noticing the signs of poor mental health.
Listening to colleagues
Social support is one of the best ways to protect mental health. In this activity, we will look at how to provide support to colleagues by listening to them and signposting them to further support.
Supporting wellbeing as a line manager
In this activity, we will look at some of the ways that compassionate and effective line managers can create mentally healthy teams while ensuring performance of the business.
Putting it all together
We are nearing the end of the course. In this activity, you will reflect on the learning so far, make pledges for change, complete your final summative assessment and obtain information about how to further your learning.
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Assess the role of the workplace in preventing poor health and understand the moral, legal and economic reasons to do so.
- Develop our understanding of what mental health is, as well as how it can and does change over time.
- Explore the stress response and the risks of prolonged or excessive stress.
- Discuss the role of stigma in worsening the mental health epidemic.
- Identify members of our society who are at higher risk of developing mental illness.
- Reflect on the factors which contribute to a psychologically safe workplace.
- Explore key workplace policies and procedures which have an impact on wellbeing.
- Identify the ways in which a line manager can support their team's wellbeing.
- Improve interpersonal skills of listening to our colleagues and noticing changes in them.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone interested in delving deeper into issues of mental health and wellbeing, and in developing strategies for promoting a psychologically safe working environment.
It will be particularly useful for team leaders, managers, or HR professionals.
Who will you learn with?
I work in the programmes team at the Mental Health Foundation, delivering online education projects so that people are empowered to look after their mental health and the mental health of others.
Who developed the course?
Mental Health Foundation
The Foundation works to prevent mental health problems. We drive change towards a mentally healthy society for all, and support communities, families and individuals to live mentally healthier lives, with a particular focus on those at greatest risk. The Foundation is the home of Mental Health Awareness Week.
Mental Health at Work
We provide organisations with tailored mental health programmes, including workshops, coaching and consultancy; supporting inclusive, compassionate and productive workplaces.
Endorsers and supporters
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What's included?
This is a premium course. These courses are designed for professionals from specific industries looking to learn with a smaller group of like-minded individuals.
- Unlimited access to this course
- Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
- Tests to validate your learning
- Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you're eligible
- Download and print your Certificate of Achievement anytime
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Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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