This is how Onebright and Attensi built an inclusive training platform that enables business leaders, managers and individuals to learn about mental health at their own pace.
Onebright works with businesses across the UK to deliver workplace mental healthcare, including defining and implementing comprehensive mental health strategies and policies, delivering evidence-based therapy, and providing a vast range of training to help businesses better understand mental health and their workforce requirements.
To build a healthier workforce, Onebright works with the whole of an organisation to ensure employees receive a tailored training service, and one that delivers a positive impact on company culture.
Armed with Onebright’s expertise in mental healthcare, coupled with Attensi’s training and performance platform that combines psychology, technology and game-based learning principles, our partnership is taking employee mental health training to the next level.
The result? An inclusive training platform that enables business leaders, managers and individuals to learn about mental health at their own pace, from how to spot symptoms to how best to start a conversation about mental health with a colleague.
We spoke to Clare Price (Director of Clinical Services at Onebright) and Hannah Raymond-Cox (Attensi’s Simulation Designer) to find out more.
“One in four people will experience a mental health condition in their life. One in seven has a neurodiverse condition. It’s okay to have emotional difficulties from time to time – but it’s important that this is endorsed from the top of an organization.” Clare Price Onebright
Supporting workplace mental health not only underpins a more inclusive workplace culture and helps individuals to feel better, but it can also increase productivity and drive business growth.
However, with stigmas and barriers in the way of companies including mental health on their agenda, it can be difficult for businesses to know where to start and how best to support individuals in the workplace. To help with this, it is important that mental health is on the radar of the managers and leaders of these organisations.
The facts and figures speak for themselves. When employees struggle with their mental health, productivity suffers. Across the UK, over £28 billion has been lost as a result of poor mental wellbeing in employees.
There are many ways managers and team leaders can begin to support their employees, and part of that is really thinking about what people need to be successful in their role.
It’s how you begin a cultural shift.
Not every person who is neurodivergent or has a mental health condition will have the same needs. For example, two people with depression will not have the exact experience, or requirements to work efficiently.
Clare and Hannah discussed this at length when they were developing the simulation training program and realized how this might be challenging for organisations. Acknowledging that people are on a spectrum, and that you can move up and down this spectrum, is important for the whole workforce to understand and appreciate.
Which is why the simulation training program has been developed to support companies to think about what underpins their mental health personally and how this might change over time.
Onebright wanted to choose an simulation training provider that could generate scenarios that were as real to life as possible and to give users the confidence they need to speak with colleagues about mental health. Something Attensi has helped many organisations to achieve through game-based learning and simulation training.
To keep things broad whilst avoiding stereotypes, Clare and Hannah spoke to people who are neurodivergent or have a mental health condition about their experiences in the workplace.
Listening to individuals who are experiencing anxiety, depression, people who have Autism (ASD) or ADHD ensured they created a training solution that did not exclude anyone from the workplace.
When we think about mental health in the workplace, most people are typically scared of saying the wrong thing to someone or putting their foot in something. The simulation training program tackles this in detail with avatars and scenarios that helps users to feel comfortable having conversations about mental health.
Attensi’s VR simulation technology provides a safe place for people to fail and try again. Employees can build on their knowledge and skills, whilst gaining confidence. Working through the training and modules at their own pace.
By talking to avatars in a mobile app, employees can make snap decisions in how they would correctly and confidently respond to someone in need of mental health support. The simulator model of a person reacts just how a real person might, providing a great and safe opportunity for employees to learn about mental health.
“You are a part of your own workplace. Let’s make sure that everybody is working in a way that feels as comfortable and as effective as possible for them.” Hannah Raymond-Cox Attensi
Onebright’s partnership with Attensi has worked hard to ensure that training remains as inclusive as possible, whilst also challenging myths around wellbeing in the workplace.
“The only people who are experts in mental health and neurodiversity are those who experience it themselves. We can help people be successful no matter what difficulties they might be experiencing. That’s a win-win for any organisation”, said Clare.
Hannah concluded: “We wanted to model and simulate that real experience (of supporting someone) which means you’re then empowered, confident and competent – crucially. The layered learning of this mental health training solution achieved this. Employees can embed skills and learning in a way which other solutions don’t.”
Ready to change the game in employee training solutions? Attensi have the tools to allow your organization to become exceptional.