Practical corporate approach; avoids clinical focus on disorders
Difference
Description
Advantage
Framework considers psychological safety
Does NOT provide training on specific mental disorders.
The programme focus is about identifying Signs® an individual is experiencing a mental health concern and to facilitate prompt triage to professionals (where necessary).
Focus is on the Signs® an individual is experiencing a mental health concern not specific mental health disorders. This facilitates psychological safety by mitigating leader pathologizing self and colleagues.
Mitigates therapeutic conversations in the workplace.
Training on specific disorders may cause more harm than good.
Maintains programme focus of referral to professionals.
Less impact on business: less time spent thinking about and/or ascertaining disorders.
Non clinical focus
Process focused on ‘getting help’, rapid triage / referral.
SPEAK provides training that supports a referral process.
Leaders are equipped to navigate affected employees onto professional help.
The programme and language used teaches the leader and employees to facilitate a prompt referral process and not to act as a counsellor (conduct clinical conversations) and/ or to attempt clinical diagnosis.
Pre course considerations
Human resources to consider the impact of participating in the SPEAK Programme on participants with a background of mental health concerns and/or currently impacted by mental health concerns.
Considering privacy issues, impact of employee attendance to be discussed with the SPEAK® Facilitator.
Co facilitator assigned that is internal to organisation: Head of HR or Wellness Head to manage/ follow-up to ensure participants/ leaders are not adversely impacted by the programme.
Rigorous follow-up post programme to ensure participant psychological safety.
Responsibility on individual for their recovery.
The considered questioning process places the responsibility on the individual employee for their own recovery.