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Our goal is to help facilitate a cultural shift in workplaces so that employers and employees feel supported and secure in starting a conversation about how mental health can affect each one of us. We have developed a six-step pledge programme to help Irish workplaces create an open culture around mental health and play their part in challenging mental health stigma.

The programme includes workshops, templates and a suite of resource documents to help organisations and employees implement real change. By signing up to the workplace programme, organisations are showing that they are committed to creating an open culture around mental health for managers and employees. Creating workplace environments where people can be open and positive about their own and others’ mental health plays a key part in having psychologically safe workplaces that are free of judgement and allow conversations without fear of negative consequences.

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Why Mental Health Matters at Work

Mental illness affects individuals, families and communities across Ireland. It also affects workplaces. When mental health is ignored, organisations may experience:

Increased stress and burnout
Reduced engagement and morale
Higher absenteeism and presenteeism
Staff turnover and reputational risk

When organisations take proactive steps to support mental health in the workplace, they see measurable benefits:

Improved retention and staff satisfaction
Stronger leadership capability
More open and psychologically safe teams
A workplace culture that challenges stigma

Shine supports organisations to move from intention to action through structured, evidence-informed programmes grounded in lived experience.

The Shine Workplace Programme

The Shine Workplace Programme is a structured six-step framework designed for Irish workplaces. It helps organisations embed mental health awareness and support into everyday practice.
The programme is informed by Shine’s national stigma-reduction work, including the Green Ribbon campaign, and reflects best practice in mental health awareness in the workplace.
Completion of the programme leads to Shine Workplace Accreditation, demonstrating a genuine commitment to supporting employees and challenging stigma.

^{Step 1: Train Leadership and Management}

Leaders shape culture. We provide workshops for senior leaders, HR teams and line managers to:

Understand mental health and mental illness in the workplace
Recognise and challenge stigma
Respond appropriately and confidently
Build psychologically safe environments
Signpost relevant mental health support in Ireland

Strong leadership is essential to sustainable change.

^{Step 2: Develop a Mental Health Policy}

Shine provides guidance to help organisations develop or strengthen a clear, actionable mental health policy.
A strong policy ensures:

Consistency in approach
Fair and transparent processes
Clear support pathways
Alignment with Irish equality legislation

This creates a foundation for long-term workplace support for employees.

^{Step 3: Staff Training and Awareness}

Mental health awareness is everyone’s responsibility.
Shine delivers interactive workshops for staff that focus on:

Understanding mental health in the workplace
Reducing stigma
Promoting open conversations
Supporting colleagues appropriately

Organisations may also engage with Shine’s Green Ribbon campaign and invite Shine Ambassadors to share lived experience perspectives. These sessions help humanise the conversation and deepen understanding.

^{Step 4: Empower Mental Health Champions}

Champions help maintain momentum.
Organisations are encouraged to develop a visible network of trained Mental Health Champions across departments. Champions:

Promote awareness day-to-day
Encourage open dialogue
Challenge stigma when it arises
Support colleagues in seeking appropriate help

A strong Champion network embeds mental health support in workplace culture.

^{Step 5: Engage Your Wider Network}

Cultural change does not stop at the office door.
Organisations are encouraged to publicly demonstrate their commitment to mental health awareness and support. This may include:

Participating in the Green Ribbon campaign
Sharing internal initiatives externally
Encouraging sector-wide conversations

This reinforces leadership and extends positive impact beyond the workplace.

^{Step 6: Achieve Shine Workplace Accreditation}

Organisations that complete the programme receive:

Shine Workplace Programme certification
Digital accreditation assets
Recognition on Shine’s website

Accreditation signals a tangible commitment to mental health in Irish workplaces and positions your organisation as a leader in reducing stigma.

Workshops and Training Details

Duration: 2 hours (including a short break)

Format: In-person (maximum 30 participants) or online (maximum 20 participants)

Minimum attendance: 8 participants

Up to three workshops per organisation are funded by the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP). Additional workshops can be arranged to support wider rollout.

Workshops cover:

Understanding mental health and mental illness
Addressing stigma
Creating psychologically safe workplaces
Signposting appropriate supports

Certification Requirements

To become a Shine-accredited workplace, organisations must:

Train a proportion of senior and management staff
Develop and implement a mental health policy
Establish a network of Mental Health Champions
Conduct pre- and post-programme surveys
Submit an action plan demonstrating engagement

Shine provides ongoing support throughout the process to ensure meaningful implementation rather than a tick-box exercise.

Supporting Employees in Practice

The Workplace Programme complements existing organisational supports such as:

Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs)
Occupational Health services
HR-led wellbeing initiatives

Together, these measures provide structured workplace support for employees experiencing mental health difficulties.

^{Reasonable Workplace Adjustments}

Under Irish equality legislation, including the Employment Equality Acts, employees experiencing mental health difficulties are entitled to reasonable accommodation where appropriate.Cultural change does not stop at the office door.
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Examples may include:

Adjusted working hours or duties
Phased return to work
Time off for medical or counselling appointments

All adjustments are agreed in consultation with the employee and aim to support recovery while maintaining dignity and fairness.

^{Practical Guidance for Managers}

Managers can make a significant difference by:

Holding respectful, private conversations
Listening without assumptions
Offering practical supports and flexibility
Maintaining appropriate contact during sick leave
Modelling openness and non-judgement

These actions strengthen employee mental health in the workplace and reinforce a culture of trust.

Other Supports available from Shine

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Support for Individuals

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We offer free support for people with lived experience of mental illness. Click here for more information

Support for Relatives and Supporters

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We offer free support for relatives and supporters of people with lived experience of mental illness. Your loved one does not need to be attending our services as this is support especially for you. Click here for more information.

Support for the Media

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Our media programme is a specially designated national programme that works to encourage, support and assist the media in order to bring about change in how mental illness is perceived by the public and society. Click here for more information

Support in the Workplace

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The Workplace Programme is a free, six-step initiative designed to help employers create stigma-free, mentally healthy workplaces through flexible learning modules and practical strategies. Click here for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the programme be adapted for different sectors?

Yes. The Shine Workplace Programme can be tailored for small, medium or large organisations across public, private and voluntary sectors.

for more information click here Download

Can you support remote or hybrid teams?

Yes. We provide online workshops and guidance to help organisations maintain engagement and mental health awareness in hybrid environments.

for more information click here Download

How often should mental health initiatives be reviewed?

We recommend reviewing policies, training and engagement annually to ensure they remain effective and relevant.

for more information click here Download

Can Shine help measure impact?

Yes. Pre- and post-programme surveys help organisations track changes in awareness, confidence and workplace culture.

for more information click here Download

Are there supports for employees returning from long-term leave?

Shine provides guidance on phased return plans and supportive reintegration practices.

for more information click here Download

Immediate Support

If someone requires immediate emotional support, Samaritans are available 24 hours a day at 116 123 (free and confidential).

In an emergency, call 112 or 999.

Get Started

By joining the Shine Workplace Programme, your organisation can:

Strengthen employees’ mental health and wellbeing
Reduce stigma around mental illness
Build psychologically safe teams
Demonstrate genuine leadership in mental health support in the workplace

To learn more, contact: workplace@shine.ie

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Media Policy and Research

Shine’s Media Programme uses insights gathered through our media monitoring, research, and lived experience panels to advocate for both national and international policy changes in mental health reporting.

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Shine is a mental health support organisation based in Ireland

The Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in Ireland

Founded in 1996, the highly competitive Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism awards yearlong, non-residential fellowships to journalists from the United States, Colombia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to report on a mental health topic of their choice. In 2023, Shine’s Headline programme, in partnership with the Carter Center, proudly announced the rollout of this prestigious fellowship in Ireland through the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in the Republic of Ireland.

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Mental Health Media Awards

Shine works closely with the media to promote responsible and accurate reporting on mental health. Through guidance, training, and collaboration, Shine helps journalists and media professionals understand the impact of stigma and misinformation while encouraging coverage that is respectful and informed.

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Media Training and Upcoming Courses

For information on media training and upcoming courses click here.

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Organisations that have signed up to the Workplace Pledge

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Organisations that have signed up to the Workplace Pledge

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What our clients say about us

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Support was always there

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Joe Bloggs

Workplace Programme was excellent!!

Jane Doe

Shine are the best!!

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