Employers should update their workplace first aid approach to integrate both physical and mental health first aid, experts say.
St John Ambulance warns that organisations must address outdated approaches to first aid in the workplace to best protect their employees.
Declaring 2025 the year of holistic workplace health, the charity urged employers to recognise that the traditional concept of workplace first aid is ‘dangerously outdated’.
Between 2023 and 2024, there were 33.7 million working days lost due to workplace injury or illness across the UK. Sick leave due to stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 16.4 million – equivalent to about half of the lost workdays.
Mental health first aid a ‘core component’
Lisa Sharman is head of education and commercial training at St John Ambulance. She 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.
‘First aid – both physical and mental – is a core component of employee wellbeing – and in 2025, it demands a more sophisticated approach from businesses.
‘Mental health first aid focuses on identifying, understanding, and responding to signs of mental health issues or crises, providing initial support and guidance to professional help if needed.’
Holistic approach
She added: ‘Mental wellbeing is about proactively maintaining good mental health through practices like stress management, resilience building, and creating a supportive environment.
‘Together, they complement each other: mental wellbeing promotes prevention and ongoing health, while mental health first aid equips people to respond effectively when issues arise.
‘Mental and physical health are deeply interconnected. The workplace has changed dramatically in recent years, health requirements are evolving, and people’s expectations of their employer have shifted.
‘A holistic workplace first aid strategy draws on physical health interventions, mental health support, preventative training, and integrated wellness programmes.
‘By investing in holistic health approaches, organisations can reduce incidents and build more resilient, productive teams.
‘As we start the new year, we are calling on organisations to adapt in order to proactively contribute to improved employee resilience, reduced workplace incidents, and enhanced overall organisational health.’
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