Starbuck Academy · Thrive
Mental Health for Managers
Notice, ask, listen and signpost with confidence
A practical video programme for managers who want to support their team's mental health with confidence and care. Ten short lessons take you from understanding your role to spotting signs of change, holding supportive conversations, signposting, adjustments, prevention and building a team where it is okay to talk.
Why mental health matters for managers
Managers are often the first to notice when someone's usual pattern changes, and they shape much of what makes a working day manageable. Many hold back because they worry about saying the wrong thing or stepping beyond their role. This course gives you a clear, practical approach: you are not a clinician, but you can notice, ask, listen and point people to the right help. It also looks at the work itself, and at looking after yourself while you support others.
Who it is for
Managers and team leaders at any level who want to feel confident supporting their team's mental health. It also works well as a lead-in to face-to-face Mental Health First Aid training, which organisations can book with Starbuck & Associates.
What you will be able to do
- Explain your role in supporting mental health, and where it ends
- Notice changes that suggest someone may be struggling, without labelling
- Start a supportive conversation and listen without rushing to fix
- Signpost to internal and external support, and respond if someone is at immediate risk
- Agree workplace adjustments and support a good return to work, with HR advice
- Reduce work-related pressure, look after yourself and build a team where it is okay to talk
Ten lessons
The manager's role in mental health
What your role is and is not, why managers make a difference, and why boundaries matter.
Mental health as a spectrum
Mental health as a spectrum everyone moves along, and language that makes it easier to talk.
Spotting signs of change
Noticing changes in work, behaviour and remote working, and describing facts rather than labels.
Starting a supportive conversation
Choosing the moment, a simple opening, asking twice and being honest about privacy.
Listening without fixing
Full attention, reflecting back, open questions and the phrases that shut people down.
Signposting and getting support
Support inside and outside your organisation, signposting with care, and what to do at immediate risk.
Adjustments and returning to work
Practical adjustments, keeping in touch during absence, a good return to work and when to involve HR.
Work-related causes and prevention
How work can help or harm, the six HSE Management Standards areas, and practical prevention.
Looking after yourself as a manager
The weight managers carry, healthy boundaries, who supports you, and modelling good habits.
A team where it is okay to talk
Making it normal to talk, responding well when people speak up, and your next steps.
What is included
Ten short video lessons you can watch on any device, a workbook and a practical tool for every lesson, a slide presentation with presenter notes for every lesson, the full Mental Health for Managers workbook, a four-page quick-reference toolkit and a 17-page Manager’s Toolkit of printable tools and conversation guides to download, a five-question knowledge check per lesson, a certificate of completion showing 6 estimated learning hours, and 12 months’ access. An annual subscription of £99 per person, per year inc. VAT.
Face-to-face Mental Health First Aid
When you are ready to go further, organisations can book face-to-face Mental Health First Aid training with Starbuck & Associates, delivered by our associate facilitator Cathy Lawson. Get in touch to talk about training for your managers.
How your learning time adds up
Your 6 estimated learning hours are made up across ten lessons of about 36 minutes each:
- Watching the ten short lesson videos: about 30 minutes (about 3 minutes each)
- Reading the lesson notes and workbook pages: about 1 hour 40 minutes (10 minutes each)
- Working through the practical tool for each lesson: about 1 hour 40 minutes (10 minutes each)
- Planning and carrying out each workplace task: about 1 hour 40 minutes (10 minutes each)
- Completing the five-question knowledge check after each lesson: about 30 minutes (3 minutes each)
Total: 6 estimated learning hours.
Knowledge checks: every lesson or module ends with a short multiple choice knowledge check. The pass mark is 80% and you can retake a knowledge check as many times as you need.
Who designed it
This programme was designed by ICF credentialed coaches at Starbuck & Associates, led by Paul Starbuck, our Founder and CEO and an ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC). Every lesson draws on our coaching and leadership development work with organisations in the UK, Europe and around the world, and each programme is reviewed regularly to keep it current.
Before you start
This course is general learning and development content and is not professional advice. Always follow your own organisation’s policies, and take specialist advice on legal, medical, financial or HR matters.
