When an employee is feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, or unsupported at work, it can quickly ripple to the rest of the team, affecting morale, productivity, and the overall work environment. It’s not about one individual struggling, but about how that struggle can spread and shape the workplace culture.

In fact, the stakes have never been higher. According to recent reports, European businesses lose over €600 billion annually to work-related mental health issues, while companies that invest in proactive mental health support see returns of €3-€6 for every euro spent. However, trying to put meaningful mental health practices in place can often feel overwhelming.

That’s where Richmond Foundation comes in. Our training programmes and workplace resources are designed specifically to help organisations support their people the right way, from setting up thoughtful policies to equipping managers with the confidence to have better conversations about mental health.

But how does this transformation actually happen in practice? Let’s examine a real case where expert intervention turned a mental health crisis into a catalyst for positive change.

Josette had been with the company for over a decade. She was well-liked, reliable, and dedicated. But after a prolonged period of feeling ignored and shut out by her direct manager, she made the difficult decision to resign. Her departure didn’t go unnoticed. Colleagues were shocked and uneasy. If someone as longstanding and committed as Josette could feel unsupported enough to leave, what did that mean for everyone else?

Soon, morale began to dip. Productivity dropped. The team atmosphere, once lively and collaborative, grew quiet and tense. The manager noticed but responded with frustration. Instead of asking his team what was wrong, he began expressing anger and disappointment, which only deepened the disquiet. Eventually, other team members started to hand in their notice too.

Noticing there was an ongoing issue, senior management stepped in. They began meeting with team members one by one. It didn’t take long to identify a clear pattern: workplace stress was high, communication had broken down, and there were no real support structures in place. When they spoke to the manager, he admitted he felt completely unequipped to support his team through the stress and challenges they were facing.

The company engaged Richmond Foundation’s Healthy Minds Consult to address ongoing challenges. An in-depth consultation was conducted to explore the underlying issues. Based on the findings, Richmond proposed a multi-faceted, holistic approach to effectively tackle the concerns, offering the team an opportunity for renewal, cohesion, and improved wellbeing.

In the months that followed, the organisation saw real, measurable improvements. Performance improved, absenteeism dropped, staff satisfaction scores improved, and turnover began to slow down. Managers, once unsure of how to support their teams, shared how much more confident they now felt in addressing mental health with compassion and professionalism.

At Richmond Foundation, we offer a range of solutions designed to help businesses build stronger, productive, and healthier workplaces. We will be discussing two of our most in-demand services for corporate clients are Healthy Minds Consult and Healthy Minds Talk.

Each offers a different kind of support, but together, they give you the tools to create lasting change. From shaping solid mental health policies to opening up conversations about wellbeing at work, these initiatives are designed to meet you where you are and help you take the next step forward.

Here’s how these two services work hand in hand to support you and your team.

Healthy Minds Consult is a hands-on service that helps companies build a healthier, more supportive

workplace from the inside out. We work closely with leadership and HR teams to create mental health policies that actually work, and support you every step of the way.

Here’s what you can expect from the service:

• We give you a mental health policy that guides best practice at your workplace.
• One-on-one sessions with leadership to identify risks, optimise existing initiatives, and develop proactive strategies that prevent issues before they escalate.
• Immediate expert support when workplace incidents occur, including step-by-step guidance, employee support coordination, and recovery planning.
• Practical coaching for managers on how to approach sensitive mental health discussions with confidence, empathy, and legal compliance.
• Customised training sessions addressing your workforce’s specific challenges—from stress management to building resilience—delivered by qualified mental health professionals.

Healthy Minds Talk is all about giving your team a safe space to talk things through, without judgment and at no cost to them. It’s a confidential support service that connects employees with qualified mental health professionals who can help with both work-related and personal struggles.

Here’s what the service includes:

• Free, one-on-one therapy sessions with licensed professionals like psychologists, psychotherapists, and family therapists
• A completely confidential environment where employees can speak openly and feel heard
• Support for a wide range of issues, including work stress, anxiety, depression, and more
• Practical coping tools to help staff feel stronger, calmer, and more in control
• A positive ripple effect—when people feel better, they do better at work too

Your employees deserve professional support, and your business deserves the competitive advantage that comes with a mentally healthy workforce.

Whether you’re a growing team of 10 or an established organisation of 1,000+, Richmond Foundation will design a solution that fits your unique needs and budget. From initial consultation to full implementation, we make the process seamless.

Everything starts with a friendly, no-pressure conversation. So just reach out! We believe every workplace in Malta can be a mentally healthy one. And we’re here to help you make that happen.