T2 receives recognition from Mental Health First Aid Australia

Mental Health First Aid Australia has recognised tea company T2 for its work in providing staff with mental health support.

T2 has implemented “Mental Health First Aiders” across the company: employees who can provide assistance and guidance to colleagues who may be struggling with mental health concerns.

Jayde Nicholson, head of safety and wellbeing at T2, commented: “At T2, we recognise that now more than ever, we need team members with the skills and tools to have better-equipped conversations about mental health, while being able to recognise those who are struggling and guide them to seek the appropriate support.”

She continued: “The Mental Health First Aider skilled workforce program aligns with and supports our broader mental health strategy. It is just one of the initiatives we have used to build these skills, implement support structures, and continue to raise awareness, while reducing the stigma associated with mental health conditions.”

T2’s Mental Health First Aid Skilled Workplace Program has made progress in supporting employees, with 10 per cent of their full-time employees both “trained and accredited” in first aid for mental health, a plan for further training in the area, and a policy behind the initiative.

Coinciding with this announcement, T2 and Ash Paraskevas, a mental health advocate, released an episode of Conversations Over A Cuppa that talks about mental illness, in a bid to destigmatise these conversations.

Div Pillay mentioned the Cuppa events in her article for HR Leader: When diversity hiring becomes harmful to employees.

She wrote: “I am currently part of an online Conversations Over a Cuppa series with the Melbourne-based specialty tea brand, T2. The series encourages people, its team members and leaders to be active allies in the community and think more deeply about their personal role in diversity, equity and inclusivity.”

Mental Health First Aid Australia has been around since 2000. Since then, 4 million people across the world and 1 million Australians have received mental health support training via the organisation. They run over 4,500 courses per year in more than 25 countries.

In September 2022, HR Leader reported on T2’s focus on diversity and sustainability, another area in which they champion social responsibility, as discussed in T2’s 2021 Sustainability Impact Report.

Derek Muirhead, global managing director at T2, said at the time: “This report provides proof of T2’s deep commitment across the supply chain to do good for people and planet, demonstrating our ongoing dedication to ethical and responsible business practices.”

“A prime example is our Certified lemongrass project, which has brought great benefit to T2 and our supplier in Thailand, helping to protect biodiversity in cultivation areas, improving soil health and reducing emissions. This is a key partnership that we plan to continue with further discussions planned later this year.”