For Fenech & Fenech Advocates, making mental health a greater priority in the workplace was part of a wider effort to create a culture where people felt supported through both everyday pressures and more challenging periods of change.

“A few years ago, we recognised the need to make mental health at the workplace also a priority for the organisation,” explains Monica Galea John, Partner at Fenech & Fenech. “We wanted to create a supportive and open workplace culture and partnering with Richmond Foundation was a natural fit for our values.”

Since introducing Richmond Foundation’s Healthy Minds Learn service, the response from employees has been increasingly positive. In fact, Monica notes that attendance at the organisation’s sessions doubled this year, alongside strong participation and engagement.

“It was remarkable how staff felt comfortable openly discussing mental health both during the session and with the trainer after the sessions,” she says. “For us, these are clear signs that the programme is making a difference.”

What’s more, the team found that building resilience isn’t simply about helping people cope with more. It’s about giving employees the knowledge, confidence, and space to better understand their mental wellbeing, and creating a workplace where seeking support and talking openly about challenges feels like a natural part of adapting to whatever comes next.

The situations below show how the same workplace challenge can be approached in very different ways. On one side is the instinctive response many of us fall into when we’re under pressure; on the other is a healthier approach that can help us manage the situation more constructively.

SITUATION 1: When change at work feels overwhelming

• An unhelpful response: A major change is announced at work, and you immediately assume the worst. You keep your concerns to yourself, feel increasingly anxious, and try to simply push through the uncertainty alone so as not to appear unable to handle the changes taking place.
• A healthier response: Recognise the uncertainty and how it is affecting you. Focus on what you can control, communicate your concerns where appropriate, and seek clarification or support rather than allowing worries and uncertainties to build up.

SITUATION 2: When pressure starts to build

• An unhelpful response: Your workload keeps growing, but you tell yourself you just need to work harder. You skip breaks, stay connected after hours, and keep going until stress and exhaustion begin affecting both your work and personal life.
• A healthier response: Notice the early signs that pressure is becoming difficult to manage. Take practical steps to prioritise your workload, protect time for recovery, and speak up or seek support before stress becomes overwhelming,

SITUATION 3: When something doesn’t go to plan

• An unhelpful response: A project goes badly or you receive difficult feedback, and you immediately see it as a personal failure. You dwell on what went wrong and lose confidence in your ability to handle future challenges.
• A healthier response: Allow yourself to acknowledge disappointment without letting one setback define you. Reflect on what happened, identify what you can learn from the experience, and give yourself the time and perspective needed to move forward.

For employers, managers, and HR professionals, supporting resilience in the workplace shouldn’t mean encouraging people to simply cope with more. It means giving them the awareness, knowledge, and practical skills to recognise when pressure is building, respond more healthily to challenges, and know when to seek support.

Through Richmond Foundation’s Healthy Minds Learn programme, organisations can give their people practical tools to navigate stress, setbacks, change, and uncertainty without feeling they have to carry everything alone.

Get in touch with Richmond Foundation to learn more about bringing Healthy Minds Learn to your workplace and exploring how the programme can support your people in building healthier, more sustainable resilience.

Over the years, Richmond Foundation has worked alongside businesses across all kinds of sectors, and Lynn Sammut, Head of Wellbeing Services, has seen firsthand just how differently these situations can unfold.

“I remember one HR manager who called us after a member of her team had experienced a death in the family,” Lynn recalls. “She didn’t know whether to reach out to them directly, whether to say something to the rest of the team, or just wait and see. She just felt stuck. We talked her through it step by step, and honestly, that kind of guidance can change everything for someone in that position.”

It’s not always something as sudden as an accident or a loss, either. “Sometimes it’s quieter than that,” Lynn says. “A manager notices someone’s not quite themselves, they’re withdrawn, maybe missing more days than usual, and they’re not sure if they should say something or if that would be overstepping. We get calls like that a lot, actually.”

And then there’s the longer-term work, she adds, like helping organisations put proper mental health policies in place so they’re not scrambling every time something comes up. “That’s some of the most rewarding work, honestly, because you’re helping build something that lasts and which will affect employees for years to come.”

Whatever the situation, Lynn’s advice is always the same: “Reaching out early really does make all the difference. That’s what Healthy Minds Consult is there for, it gives organisations a direct line to our team whenever they need us.”

Partnering with Richmond Foundation gives you access to experienced mental health professionals who can help you build a healthier, more supportive workplace.

• Access to workplace mental health experts: Gain professional advice from Richmond Foundation’s experienced mental health team whenever you need guidance on employee wellbeing or complex workplace situations.
• Tailored mental health policies: Develop practical policies and procedures that provide a clear framework for supporting employees while helping to foster a positive, psychologically healthy workplace culture.

• Support for HR and leadership teams: Equip managers and HR professionals with the knowledge, practical strategies, and expert guidance needed to respond confidently to workplace mental health challenges and maintain positive employee relationships.
• Building strong wellbeing foundations: Create a sustainable workplace wellbeing programme through leadership commitment, staff training, clearly defined responsibilities, effective policies, and ongoing support for employees.
• Expert guidance during critical situations: Receive timely telephone support from Richmond Foundation’s mental health professionals when dealing with sensitive situations, such as an employee experiencing severe emotional distress or suicidal thoughts, ensuring your team is guided towards the most appropriate response.

Whether you’re looking to build a more proactive approach to workplace wellbeing or need expert guidance through a challenging situation, the Healthy Minds Consult team is here to help.

Get in touch to discuss your organisation’s needs, learn more about our consultancy services, and explore how we can tailor our support to your workplace. Contact us at support@richmond.org.mt to start the conversation.

At Richmond Foundation, supporting people through challenging moments is part of everyday life. Teams regularly work with individuals experiencing distress, which means difficult conversations and heightened emotions can sometimes arise. That’s why we believe it’s important to practise what we encourage other organisations to do.

“CPI training has been truly transformative for our teams,” says Anthony Debattista, Head of Corporate at Richmond Foundation. “It has equipped our professionals with the skills to recognise early warning signs, de-escalate challenging situations with confidence, and respond with both empathy and professionalism.”

Anthony goes on to explain that the impact has gone far beyond handling individual incidents. “The verbal and safety intervention techniques not only make our workplace safer, they foster a culture of trust, respect, and compassionate care that extends far beyond any single situation.”

For organisations where people face demanding or emotionally charged situations, Anthony’s advice is simple: “This training is an investment that will make a real and lasting difference to your people and those they support.”

CPI goes beyond simply teaching people how to react in a crisis. It equips participants with practical techniques that are grounded in ethical and legal standards, helping participants to recognise the early signs of escalating behaviour, respond with confidence, and help prevent situations from reaching crisis point wherever possible.

Through the training, participants will learn how to:

• Recognise the early stages of escalating behaviour and respond before a situation intensifies.
• Stay calm under pressure using techniques such as rational detachment to manage their own emotional responses.
• Listen with empathy, acknowledging emotions without judgement while helping individuals feel heard.
• Use respectful communication and non-threatening body language to reduce tension rather than escalate it.
• Set clear boundaries and offer choices that encourage cooperation instead of confrontation.
• Understand the stages of a crisis, knowing how to adapt their response as situations develop and safely guide them towards resolution.

Every workplace will face challenging conversations from time to time. The difference lies in whether your people have the confidence and practical skills to respond in a way that de-escalates tension, protects relationships, and keeps everyone safe.

Whether you’re looking to proactively strengthen your team’s communication skills or support staff working in more demanding environments, CPI training provides practical techniques that participants can apply both in the workplace and in everyday life.

Get in touch with Richmond Foundation to learn more about our CPI training and how it can be tailored to the needs of your organisation so we can help your people feel safer, better supported, and better equipped to care for others.

When Mark founded his company, long hours were simply part of his entrepreneurial journey. “In those early start-up days, weekends and late nights were normal,” he says. Years later, although the business was stable and it no longer required that same relentless pace, Mark noticed many employees were still behaving as though it did.

“I’d wake up to emails sent late at night or find team members messaging me on weekends about work. I appreciated their dedication, but I started wondering whether I’d created a culture where people felt they always had to be available.”

After speaking with another business owner, Mark was introduced to Richmond Foundation’s Healthy Minds Recharge programme. Through the experience, both he and his team had the opportunity to reflect on their wellbeing, recognise signs of burnout, and explore healthier ways of working.

“The programme was great, and it really made me realise that leading by example matters,” he explains. “Now when my team takes a holiday, they do it without a sense of guilt or as if they need to make up for that lost time. We know they’ll come back more focused and energised. And I think the team appreciates knowing their wellbeing genuinely matters to us,” he says.

Creating a healthier workplace doesn’t require drastic changes. Often, small shifts in culture and everyday habits can make a big difference to how your people perform.

1. Lead by example

Employees take their cues from leadership. If managers never switch off, answer emails late at night, or avoid taking leave, teams often feel they need to do the same. Demonstrate healthy boundaries yourself and give employees permission to do likewise.

2. Encourage proper breaks

A lunch break isn’t a luxury. Encourage employees to step away from their desks (and their phones!), take short breaks throughout the day, and use their annual leave entitlement. Recovery during the workday can be just as important as recovery outside it.

3. Focus on outcomes, not hours

Being busy doesn’t always mean being productive. Reward quality work, collaboration, and results rather than long hours or constant availability.

4. Respect time outside work

Avoid creating an expectation that employees should always be reachable. Limiting after-hours emails and messages helps people properly disconnect and recharge.

5. Create opportunities to reset

Dedicated wellbeing initiatives, reflective workshops, and programmes such as Richmond Foundation’s Healthy Minds Recharge can give employees practical tools to reconnect with their wellbeing and return to work feeling refreshed and energised.

Sometimes all it takes is the right opportunity to pause and reset. Healthy Minds Recharge gives employees exactly that through a structured, evidence-informed experience designed to help them step back from daily pressures, reflect on their wellbeing, and develop practical tools they can continue using long after the programme ends.

Whether you’re looking to proactively support your team, address signs of stress and fatigue, or simply create a healthier workplace culture, Healthy Minds Recharge can be tailored to the specific needs of your organisation and people.

Get in touch with Richmond Foundation to learn more about Healthy Minds Recharge and discover how our programmes can lead to better performance and lasting results for your team.

When the Malta Communications Authority began exploring ways to better understand employee wellbeing across the organisation, the team recognised the importance of moving beyond assumptions and gaining clearer insight into how employees were really feeling.

That’s when the Authority partnered with Richmond Foundation through the Healthy Minds Know programme.

According to Stella Vella, Assistant Manager HR & Administration, the process was “highly professional and well managed from start to finish.” Before the survey was distributed, Richmond Foundation delivered “an informative presentation beforehand to ensure staff were fully updated and engaged,” helping employees feel comfortable participating in the anonymous wellbeing survey.

Following completion, the Authority received “a comprehensive report” with “valuable recommendations for staff training and the development of Mental Health First Aiders within the Authority.” These insights helped leadership better understand the needs of employees and identify meaningful areas for improvement. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Richmond Foundation on future wellbeing and mental health initiatives,” Stella adds.

Healthy Minds Know gives organisations practical, evidence-based insight into employee wellbeing, helping leadership move beyond assumptions and make more informed decisions.

Through the programme, organisations can:

• Gather honest, first-hand feedback directly from employees through confidential wellbeing surveys
• Identify patterns affecting morale, stress levels, engagement, and workplace culture
• Spot potential issues early before they escalate into burnout, absenteeism, or staff turnover
• Use standardised questionnaires aligned with international studies and wellbeing benchmarks
• Compare results over time to measure progress and identify areas for improvement
• Better understand the real challenges employees may be facing at work
• Create more targeted wellbeing initiatives based on actual employee experiences rather than guesswork
• Strengthen workplace culture by showing employees their voices are being heard

Research consistently shows that investing in employee mental health delivers long-term benefits for both people and businesses. Employees who feel heard, supported, and valued are more likely to stay engaged, motivated, and connected to their workplace. And when organisations regularly check in on wellbeing, they are far better equipped to identify concerns early and respond in meaningful ways.

If you’d like to better understand how Healthy Minds Know works, get in touch with Richmond Foundation. Together, we can help you build a workplace where your people feel genuinely heard and supported.

The price is 20 Euro per person.
(plus 2 Euro service charge by ticketing system)

The price is 20 Euro per person.
(plus 2 Euro service charge by ticketing system)

Rock for Richmond is not just an opportunity to rock out to top local acts, but a way to support Richmond’s work. Proceeds from the event will go toward funding the Foundation’s professional mental health support services and mental health advocacy.

By purchasing a ticket for Rock for Richmond, you will also be supporting Richmond Foundation’s mission to Kenya – a new initiative led entirely by Richmond staff and volunteers.

This summer, a team from Richmond Foundation will travel to Kenya to undertake voluntary work and support communities in need. Through their time, skills and expertise, they will contribute to projects that promote mental wellbeing, strengthen local services and create lasting positive change for children, young people and vulnerable communities.

The price is 20 Euro per person.
(plus 2 Euro service charge by ticketing system)

We would like to thank in a special way Festivals Malta for supporting Rock for Richmond through the Rock’N Malta fund.

We would like to thank Lidl Malta for supporting Rock for Richmond as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility commitment.

We would like to thank all our sponsors

PLATINUM SPONSORS:

GOLD SPONSORS:

SILVER SPONSORS:

MEDIA SPONSORS:

IN-KIND SPONSORS:

The price is 20 Euro per person.
(plus 2 Euro service charge by ticketing system)

In any workplace, people show up each day carrying more all sorts of life experiences. Some arrive energised after a good weekend or a family holiday. Others may be dealing with anxiety, stress, burnout, or personal challenges.

The difficulty, as Tania Camilleri, Employee Relations Officer & PA to the Management Board at The Miller Group explains, is that while people are happy to share the positives, conversations around mental health can still feel uncomfortable at work.

“There’s often a hesitation,” she notes, “whether it’s fear of being judged or of how it might be perceived professionally.”

Recognising this, the company set out to create a more open and supportive culture through adopting a Mental Health First Aid training programme with Richmond Foundation.

“Our organisation has greatly benefited from the training,” Tania says. “It’s strengthened our culture by making conversations about wellbeing more open and supportive.” She explains that employees now feel more confident recognising signs of distress and stepping in to offer help, leading to better morale and earlier intervention.

“I strongly encourage other companies to invest in this training,” she adds. “It creates safer, healthier, and more compassionate workplaces.”

Mental Health First Aid offers clear, practical benefits for organisations while equipping teams with the skills to respond when it matters most.

For your organisation, the benefits include:

• Reduced absenteeism and presenteeism linked to poor mental health
• Improved employee retention, morale, and overall engagement
• Stronger team dynamics and a more supportive workplace culture
• Earlier intervention before issues escalate into more serious challenges
• A healthier, more resilient workforce both mentally and emotionally

More than just theory, participants will gain practical tools to:

• Recognise early signs of stress, anxiety, burnout, or depression
• Approach colleagues with confidence, empathy, and appropriate boundaries
• Start supportive conversations without fear of “saying the wrong thing”
• Guide individuals towards professional help and available support services
• Respond calmly and effectively in difficult or sensitive situations

Create a more open and supportive workplace with Richmond Foundation. We can tailor our Mental Health First Aid training to your organisation’s needs, helping your people feel confident to support one another, all the while creating a culture where no one has to struggle in silence.

For Daniel, who had been working at his  company for more than ten years, talking about mental health had never felt natural. “In my family, it just wasn’t something we ever spoke about,” he says. “And it definitely wasn’t something I was going to bring up at work.”

But during a difficult period in his personal life, Daniel began feeling a constant sense of stress and anxiety. “My mind was constantly split between what was happening at home and what I needed to get done at work,” he explains.

That’s when he remembered his company offered Healthy Minds Talk. “I never imagined I’d be someone who would go to counselling,” he admits. “But knowing it was confidential, free, and that I could sign up for sessions without needing to go through HR made it feel possible.”

Through a series of sessions with a professional, Daniel found a space to talk openly and reflect on what he was experiencing. “Those conversations helped me understand myself better and manage my stress in a healthier way,” he says. “It also really made me appreciate working for a company that understands people sometimes need that level of professional support and has the foresight to make it available for them whenever it’s needed.”

Healthy Minds Talk gives employees a safe, confidential space to talk through personal or work-related challenges before stress begins to affect their wellbeing or performance. By making professional help easily accessible, organisations can help their people manage difficulties earlier while strengthening the overall workplace environment.

Through this workplace support programme, employees can:

• Access confidential one-to-one counselling from qualified mental health professionals
• Speak openly about work stress, personal challenges, or emotional difficulties
• Be matched with the professional best suited to their needs
• Learn practical techniques to manage stress, anxiety, and overwhelming thoughts
• Receive support that is completely private and separate from management or HR
• Gain guidance during difficult life situations, including family or legal concerns

What’s more, the wider organisation also sees important benefits from Healthy Minds Talk. That’s because:

• When employees receive the right guidance, they are better able to concentrate on their work and maintain consistent performance.
• Offering confidential support shows employees their organisation genuinely cares about their wellbeing, building engagement and loyalty.
• Anonymous reporting helps HR and leadership understand patterns affecting employee wellbeing while maintaining full confidentiality.

So, if you would like to introduce Healthy Minds Talk as part of your workplace benefits, simply reach out to Richmond Foundation to discuss the options available and how the programme can be tailored to your organisation.

“As an HR Manager, I’ve seen how lost teams can feel when someone is going through a crisis,” says Donald Buhagiar. “People want to help, but they don’t always know how or where to turn.”

Donald participated in Richmond Foundation’s Healthy Minds Learn courses to better understand trauma at work, and the impact was immediate. “Research shows that around 22% of employees experience trauma in the workplace, and many are still affected long after the incident. That really resonated with what I was seeing day to day.”

Through the training, Donald learned how trauma can show up in different ways, how to respond with empathy, and how to guide teams through difficult moments. “It’s made a real difference,” he explains. “Our employees feel better supported, and I feel more confident in my role. I now have the tools to step in when someone asks for help, or even when I sense they might need it but don’t yet know how to say it.”

Healthy Minds Learn is designed to give managers, HR teams, and leaders practical skills they can use with confidence, especially when it matters most.

Through these courses which are tailored for the workplace, participants can expect to:

• Recognise early signs of mental health difficulties or crisis in employees
• Understand how trauma and stress show up at work
• Respond with empathy, confidence, and appropriate boundaries
• Help employees using clear, practical tools and frameworks
• Navigate difficult situations with guidance from qualified professionals
• Strengthen team trust, psychological safety, and workplace culture
• Feel more prepared and confident in HR or leadership roles

The result is a workplace that feels more resilient and better equipped to care for its people, without guesswork or fear of “getting it wrong.”

Get in touch with Richmond Foundation to explore how our training can be tailored to your workplace and to the real situations your people are facing every day.

Healthy Minds Recharge is a practical, evidence-based wellbeing workshop designed by Richmond Foundation in Malta to help participants reset mentally and physically. Led by a small team of qualified professionals, the workshop offers a holistic view of wellbeing, looking at how nutrition, movement, stress, and daily habits shape our mood, focus, and resilience.

We ensure the experience is intentionally kept intimate, with small groups of 15 to 20 participants, allowing for meaningful discussion, reflection, and individual attention. Rather than a passive talk, this is an interactive day that encourages people to reconnect with themselves and leave with tools they can actually use.

During a Healthy Minds Recharge retreat, participants are guided to reflect on how simple, often overlooked daily habits can quietly influence their mood, energy, and overall mental wellbeing. Here are some relatable examples must of us experience from time to time:

• Skipping meals or eating on the go: When you miss meals or rely on quick, sugary snacks, your energy crashes, and so does your mood. That mid-afternoon irritability or brain fog isn’t just “stress”, it’s often your body asking for fuel.
• Constant sitting and little movement: Sitting at a desk all day can leave your body tense and your mind restless. Even short walks or gentle stretching can ease physical stiffness and help calm racing thoughts.
• Poor sleep patterns: Going to bed late, scrolling on your phone, or waking up exhausted doesn’t just affect energy, it makes emotions harder to manage. Small changes to sleep habits can significantly improve focus and emotional balance.
• Shallow breathing during stressful moments: When stress hits, many people unconsciously hold their breath or breathe shallowly, which signals danger to the brain. Learning simple breathing techniques can quickly reduce anxiety and bring a sense of calm.
• Being mentally “on” all the time: Constant notifications, emails, and mental to-do lists don’t give the brain a chance to rest. Over time, this can lead to overwhelm, low mood, and burnout, even if everything seems “fine” on the surface.

We focus on lifestyle medicine principles and mental health expertise to explore realistic strategies that fit into everyday life. What’s more, our focus is always on progress, not perfection, helping people understand what works for them rather than following one-size-fits-all advice.

Theory is all well and good, but we want you to get hands-on and engage with the advice. That’s why throughout our workshops, participants take part in guided discussions, reflective exercises, gentle movement sessions, and practical demonstrations.

Rather than being told what to do, you are encouraged to explore your own habits, identify stress triggers, and reflect on what might need adjusting. Because the learning is practical and personalised, many people find themselves using the tools they learn the very same day, whether it’s a breathing technique, a change in how you structure your day, or a new way of checking in with yourself.

Start the Year Recharged With Richmond Foundation

Healthy Minds Recharge is designed for anyone who wants to feel more balanced, focused, and energised, without unrealistic expectations or quick fixes. With limited places available, it offers a rare chance to step away from daily demands, reset your body and mind, and invest in your wellbeing in a way that truly lasts.

Each one-day retreat includes:

• Reflective, guided workshops led by a qualified psychotherapist
• Relaxation and gentle movement sessions facilitated by a certified yoga instructor
• A healthy lunch, snacks, and refreshments to support energy and focus throughout the day

Whether you’re booking a retreat for your team or staff, this is your opportunity to start the year feeling grounded, refreshed, and ready for what’s ahead. Secure your retreat and recharge the right way.