Building manager confidence to support mental health at work

Goodman client case study

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The Challenge

Goodman is a specialist global industrial property group. The UK team recognised the vital role managers play in creating healthy, psychologically safe teams and supporting employee wellbeing.

They wanted to ensure managers had the confidence, knowledge and practical skills to respond appropriately when someone was struggling, while also looking after their own wellbeing.

Two men sitting on yellow couches, smiling and engaged in conversation, with a green leafy patterned wall in the background.

We designed and delivered a full-day manager mental health training programme led by Dr Barbara Mariposa, our Head of Mental Health. With a background in psychiatry and public health, Dr Barbara combines clinical expertise with practical workplace experience to help managers feel confident supporting mental health at work.

Our Approach

The training incorporated a blend of:

Education: to build understanding of mental health, common mental health conditions, early warning signs and the factors that influence wellbeing at work.

Interaction: to encourage open discussion, challenge misconceptions and increase confidence in talking about mental health.

Practical skills: to address mental health and illness, including how to have conversations successfully with people who may be unwell or returning to work, plus strategies to support their own and others’ mental and emotional wellbeing.

Two women working together in an office, one pointing at a whiteboard with notes and diagrams, the other attentively listening. The office has a large white table with open laptops, sticky notes, notebooks, and a plant.

The Impact

To evaluate the impact of the training, we conducted pre- and post-programme surveys measuring managers' knowledge, confidence and readiness to support mental health in the workplace:

  1. Greater understanding of mental health
    44% of managers said that their knowledge was high or very high post-training, compared to just 18% pre-training.

  2. Increased confidence to support employees
    Pre training 36% of managers said their confidence was low or very low. Post training this was 0%.

  3. Greater confidence handling difficult conversations
    26% reported uplift in feeling able to deal with challenges.

  4. Improved confidence in managing personal wellbeing
    Pre-training, 18% of managers felt poorly able to take care of their wellbeing, compared to 0% post training.

Two women having a discussion in a conference room with a brick wall background, sitting at a wooden table with a laptop and notepad.

“It was excellent. Dr B was incredibly knowledgeable and managed to engage all attendees”

“My single biggest learning was that we don’t have to fix things, its about providing support and making reasonable adjustments where possible”

“It was a very engaging and informative session”

“I learnt the importance of listening and that there is no expectation to fix the problem”

Participant Feedback

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Looking to build manager confidence around mental health?

Managers are often the first to notice when someone is struggling, but many don't feel equipped to respond. Our evidence-based training gives managers the confidence, practical skills and understanding to support mental health while creating healthier, psychologically safe teams.

Get in touch to discuss your manager training requirements.

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