Practical tool
How to run a mental health toolbox talk
Toolbox talks are one of the easiest ways to make mental health part of everyday safety on site. Here's a simple structure any supervisor can use.
6 min readUpdated 21 October 2026By MENd Together CIC
Before you start
Keep it short and normal. A toolbox talk about mental health works best when it feels like any other safety briefing, not a special event. Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty.
Have the support details ready to hand out or point to: your employee assistance programme if you have one, your mental health contacts, and crisis numbers.
A simple structure
- Open plainly: "We talk about hard hats and harnesses. Stress and pressure can hurt people too, so we're going to talk about that."
- Name common pressures: money, long hours, being away from home, relationships, sleep, drinking more than usual.
- Describe what struggling can look like: going quiet, short temper, mistakes, turning up late or not at all, being on edge.
- Make asking normal: "If you notice a mate isn't himself, ask him. Then ask again: are you sure you're all right?"
- Say where to go: who on site, what support the company offers, and the crisis numbers.
- Close with a promise: nobody gets in trouble for saying they're struggling.
Afterwards
Stay around for a few minutes. People often come up quietly afterwards rather than speaking in the group. Follow up on anything you promised, and repeat the talk regularly so it doesn't become a one-off.
If you'd rather have someone from outside the business lead a session, MENd Together runs men's mental health workshops and wellbeing drop-ins for employers.
For employers
Support for the men in your workforce
MENd Together is a Community Interest Company delivering practical, confidential men's wellbeing support for employers: workplace men's circles, workshops, one-to-one support, drop-ins, leadership support and ongoing partnerships, shaped around your workforce.
Common questions
- Do I need training to give a mental health toolbox talk?
- You don't need to be an expert to run a short awareness talk. You do need to know where to point people, and it helps if supervisors have had some basic training in starting a conversation.
- What if someone tells me something serious?
- Listen, don't judge, and help them reach support. If someone is at immediate risk, call 999. For urgent mental health support, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option, call Samaritans free on 116 123, or text SHOUT to 85258.
Sources
- Health and Safety Executive: Work-related stress and how to manage it
- Acas: Supporting mental health at work
This guide is general information, not legal, medical or clinical advice. MENd Together is not a crisis service. If someone is at immediate risk, call 999.