Sorting the wheat from the chaff (3/4)

Last week I posted about the ‘rise of the mental health expert’ and why I find this so troubling.  I wrote about how individuals (usually with very well meaning intent) can overreach their mental health skills, knowledge and experience.

I was delighted to see the dialogue this article brought about, mostly in support of my views (but it would have also been ok too if this wasn’t the case). We had some interesting debate about what constitutes an expert (it depends…), whether we should set up a professional body to oversee this work (with extreme caution I suggest), and the difference between the need for compliance and putting off organisations actually doing something… I was also extremely heartened by those that wrote to say that they use their lived experience to work with organisations but have turned down paid work to do more as they felt they were over reaching their skills; I salute your integrity.  

We all know that it’s very easy to critique things without offering a solution or alternative. That’s why I hope to now give you some practical advice to help create change; my aim is to give you the skills to start to question the expertise or skill of people working in and around health, wellbeing and mental health so you can decide for yourself if you are getting what you need. 

It’s clear we all think that health, mental health and wellbeing are of vital importance to both individuals and organisations. To get these right and to make the changes we need to see means stopping talking and moving to action; writing and implementing comprehensive strategies, spending more money on proper health and mental health provision (as opposed to fluffy wellbeing activities; think mindfulness, yoga, fruit bowls, funky apps), and ensuring that people offering expertise in this area actually have the skills to do so.  

You wouldn’t feel comfortable going to see a doctor who has only been on a course of a few days, holds no other viable certifications or experience, and has no evidence base for the treatments they are prescribing. Health, mental health and well-being in organisations should be treated the same; evidence-based (or clinical) solutions delivered by individuals with the qualifications to do so. 

The sorts of questions that I think need to be answered and discussed when you are buying in expertise to an organisation include:

· Is there an evidence base (preferably clinical) to the health, mental health or wellbeing product / service that you are looking at? Does it need one? If not, why not? 

· Where else has it been used? What are the results there?

· What is the background in health, mental health or wellbeing of the person offering the service? Do they have any clinical skills? Do they need this for what they are offering?

· Who has written the training / product or service they are delivering? What their mental health / clinical experience? 

· What is their experience in writing or implementing strategies / training for organisations?

· What is their experience in working in the same type of organisation or industry as yours? Is that experience related to the product / service that they are offering?

It’s fine if there aren’t answers to all of these questions (this is a new and niche area), its just about being clear on what you are and aren’t buying. I do this for consulting clients of mine; help them to put a structure or strategy in place, and then ensure they find the best and most qualified providers to implement it and provide health services. 

Personally, I challenge anyone offering a health or wellbeing related product or service as to the background of the product, their own background and expertise, and case studies of them working in the industry and in similar organisations. Not asking these questions and spending huge sums on poor solutions and on people without proper expertise is a waste of time and money. It also devalues health and mental health. You wouldn’t do it for any other type of procurement, so why health, mental health and wellbeing? 

Keep going with comments and debate. The more we explore this together the better. 

Next month, I’ll be looking at ‘Why your mental health strategy is doomed to fail.’ I’ve seen the same mistakes time and time again, so this is a must-read for anybody involved in workplace mental health strategies.

I’ll also be talking about mental health strategy at @Mad World on October 9th if you want to have the discussion face to face.