Copyright telanganatoday

Bengaluru: IT services major Infosys, in collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) on Monday announced the launch of 'Wellness Matters: Mental Health First Aider Training Manual', a practical guide designed to help employees recognise early signs of mental distress, offer peer support, and connect individuals with professional help. This initiative aims to foster a psychologically safe and inclusive workplace culture, it said. "The Mental Health First Aider Training manual covers essential areas such as self-awareness, self-care, understanding mental health conditions, addressing substance use concerns, and basic counselling skills. It empowers employees to identify early signs of distress and facilitate appropriate support," Infosys said in a statement. According to a statement, a ‘training of trainers' model further enables certified participants to cascade this learning within their teams, embedding a culture of mental wellness across the organisation. "As part of this initiative, Infosys has trained its entire team of Human Resource professionals in India as Mental Health First Aiders, creating a crucial first-response layer of support for employees across the organisation," it said. The company further said that the manual is the result of a year-long co-creative effort between the Infosys wellness team and NIMHANS. "The engagement began with focus group discussions to understand employees' well-being needs. A multidisciplinary team of NIMHANS mental health professionals, including psychiatric social workers, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and public health specialists, along with the Infosys (Health Assessment & Lifestyle Enrichment) team, designed and delivered training programs based on these insights," it added.