After years of sweeping the topic of mental health in the workplace firmly under the proverbial rug, we’re finally beginning to open up the conversation when it comes to dealing with ill mental health during our careers.

It’s about time – statistics show that one in four of us will struggle with our mental health every year, while around 15% of people at work show symptoms of an existing mental health condition. Crucially, some 300,000 people with long-term mental health issues will lose their jobs every year, which is around 50% higher than the figure for those who lose their jobs due to physical health issues.

And that’s what makes the ongoing conversation about mental health ‘first aiders’ so important. Trained to provide and seek support on behalf of employees in the workplace struggling with mental health issues, the presence of a mental health first aider in the workplace could help to change the way we think and speak about mental ill health, especially compared to more physical, visible conditions.

That’s why the news that the UK is training record numbers of mental health first aiders is certainly a welcome occurrence. According to new research by The Guardian, FTSE 100 companies have trained more than 10,000 of their staff alone – and about half a million people in the UK have now been through Mental Health First Aid England’s programme.

This is why we need mental health first aiders at work in 2019