Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England has launched a public consultation for its draft workplace mental health first aid standards.
Announced on World Mental Health Day (10 October 2025), the consultation is part of MHFA England’s Set the standard: Mandate the change campaign. It will run until Wednesday 10 December and responses should be made via an online form.
The consultation is looking for feedback from employers, employees, MHFAiders, MHFA instructors, policymakers, membership bodies, trade unions, and mental health organisations.
The standards aim to set out clear, evidence-based guidance on best practice in embedding mental health first aid in the workplace, with MHFA England is calling for this to be mandated in all workplaces.
The proposed standards include expectations on governance and strategic commitments, training and competency, wider workplace mental wellbeing support, considerations for customers and suppliers, and infrastructure and operational support.
It also includes support for, debrief and wellbeing of MHFAiders, reporting, evaluation, and continuous improvement, MHFAider recruitment, representation, and role clarity, and MHFAider visibility and culture building.
The standards are aimed at practically delivering the government’s focus on helping people stay in and return to work. If implemented, these will help people thrive at work, boost productivity, and reduce the cost of poor mental health to the economy.
The final workplace mental health first aid standards will be published next year.
Sarah McIntosh, chief executive of MHFA England, said: “Over the last 18 years, we have seen time and again how mental health first aid saves lives and reduces stigma. For it to be truly effective, workplaces must fully embed it and take a whole-organisation approach. Workplaces have the power to transform the nation’s mental health.
“These standards are about setting a new benchmark, embedding prevention, early intervention, and culture change into every workplace. Getting feedback via the consultation is vital to the future of workplace mental health. Together, we can make create workplaces where people, communities, and business thrive.”
