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Mental Health Awareness for Leaders:
Having the First Conversation

Equip your leaders with the awareness and confidence to have the first conversation - recognising early warning signs, initiating supportive check-ins, and knowing when to escalate responsibly.

1 Day (7 hours) In-Person English 5–25 participants Malaysia & SEA

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WHO THIS TRAINING IS FOR

•

HRDC SBL-Khas Claimable

100% recoverable for eligible Malaysian employers

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★★★★★

4.8/5

Average programme rating

"The session provides practical and relevant knowledge on mental health that is increasingly important in today’s workplace. The session was also interactive, which made it engaging and helped reinforce the learning through real discussions and shared perspectives. Overall, it’s a valuable experience that can better equip leaders to support their teams effectively."

Tiffenice Lim · People Services Team Leader · Arup Jururunding, Malaysia

TRUSTED BY

TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS

• Interactive learning & role-play

• HRDC SBL-Khas claimable

• Malaysian case studies

• Take home resources

• Practical & applicable

• Certificate of completion

━ WHO THIS PROGRAMME IS FOR

Designed for leaders who need to act.

Team leaders and line managers who are often the first to notice changes in their people.

Senior managers and department heads responsible for culture and team psychological safety.

HR business partners and people managers seeking structured guidance on leadership mental health responsibilities.

Supervisors responsible for employee wellbeing who want clarity on their role and boundaries.

━ WHY THIS MATTERS

Leaders are first.

Most don't know what to do.

Leaders are often the first to notice when something has shifted - a withdrawal, a change in energy, a dip in the quality of work that once came easily. Yet despite this frontline awareness, many leaders still hesitate. Not because they don't care. But because no one has ever given them the language, the structure, or the confidence to act.

According to INSEAD, mental health awareness is not a welfare initiative; it is a vital leadership skill, necessary for the long-term success of any organisation. Professor Declan Fitzsimons argues that before a leader can effectively support others, they must first develop their own emotional self-awareness. Managing your own resources is a prerequisite for leading others effectively in moments of difficulty.

This full-day programme moves leaders from awareness into applied capability, using the proprietary Physis PAUSE Framework© to give them structure without scripting, and confidence without overreach.

WHAT PARTICIPANTS GAIN

1M

individuals aged 15+ in Malaysia are living with depression — many undetected at work .

37%

of Malaysian employers rate their current mental health efforts as only "adequate".

18%

of Malaysian workplaces are classified as highly stressful, particularly in consumer services and retail.

━ WHAT PARTICIPANTS GAIN

Three things that change after this programme.

01

Understanding Mental Health

A practical, structured approach to recognising mental health challenges and responding appropriately using the internationally recognised ALGEE framework.

02

Deeper Human Connection

Real transformation happens through genuine human relationships. Participants learn to create safety, build trust, and have the conversations that matter — even the difficult ones.

03

A Healthier Workforce

A healthy workplace starts with a healthy workforce. Participants leave with sustainable self-care strategies and a 30-day personal action plan.

━ LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this programme,
participants will be able to …

01

Explain the leader’s role and appropriate professional boundaries in supporting workplace mental health.

02

Recognise meaningful behavioural, emotional, and performance shifts that may indicate a team member is struggling.

03

Demonstrate the appropriate techniques and language to initiate a supportive, boundaries first conversation.

04

Apply the Physis PAUSE Framework© - a five-step model for navigating supportive workplace conversations.

05

Distinguish between supporting, problem-solving, and escalating, and navigate each transition appropriately.

06

Identify internal and external referral pathways, and understand when and how to activate them.

━ COURSE OUTLINE

What the session covers

Module 1: Mental Health at Work: A Practical Lens

We begin by grounding the programme in the reality of mental health in today’s workplaces. Drawing on INSEAD’s positioning of mental health awareness as a core leadership skill, this module establishes a clear framework for what is expected of leaders - and what is not. The goal is orientation, not overwhelm.

Module 2: Noticing Changes That Matter

Before a leader can respond, they must learn to notice. Research highlights that a leader’s ability to detect “weak signals” of distress in others is directly connected to their own emotional self-awareness. This module develops both: the observational fluency to catch early signs of struggle, and the self-awareness to trust what you are noticing. Leaders learn to recognise the following key behavioural and emotional indicators.

Module 3: Having the First Conversation: The Physis PAUSE Framework©

This is the programme’s core. Participants are introduced to the Physis PAUSE Framework© and develop the language, structure, and emotional confidence to initiate a supportive check-in conversation.

Module 4: Escalation, Referral, and Role Clarity

One of the most significant sources of leader anxiety is role uncertainty: How much is enough? When do I involve HR? Am I making this worse? This module addresses those questions with practical clarity, helping leaders navigate the transition from support to escalation with confidence and care.

Module 5: Everyday Habits & Leadership Commitments

Mental health support is not built through a single conversation. It is built through a consistent pattern of small, deliberate leadership behaviours over time. This closing module brings the programme together and anchors the learning in tangible commitment.

Module 6: Integration and Closing

The final module brings the full day together - not as a summary but as a structured moment of integration, honest reflection, and forward commitment. Leaders leave not just with knowledge, but with a clear and personal plan for what they will do differently.

YOUR FACILITATOR

Michelle Chee

• ICF Credentialed Coach

• HRDC Accredited Trainer

• 15+ years leadership experience, Australia & Southeast Asia

• Founder, Physis Global Sdn. Bhd.

Michelle brings a decade of leadership experience across Australia and Malaysia to every room she enters. Her facilitation style is direct, warm, and grounded in the belief that workplaces sidestep genuine emotion because it feels risky and that this is exactly where the real work begins. She has delivered this programme across manufacturing, technology, and professional services organisations in Malaysia.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MICHELLE →

YOUR FACILITATOR

Helena Prema John

• ICF Credentialed Coach

• HRDC Accredited Trainer

• 15+ years leadership experience, Australia & Southeast Asia

• Founder, Physis Global Sdn. Bhd.

Helena Prema John is an HRD Corp accredited trainer and former Head of Human Resources, with over 20 years of experience across corporate leadership, learning and development, and organisational transformation.

She works closely with leaders and teams to navigate change, strengthen team dynamics, and build workplaces that are both effective and human.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HELENA →

YOUR FACILITATOR

Von Goh

• ICF Credentialed Coach

• HRDC Accredited Trainer

• 15+ years leadership experience, Australia & Southeast Asia

Von Goh is an HRDC accredited trainer and Certified Master Performance Coach specialising in leadership development, emotional intelligence training, and somatic wellness for workplace performance. Her unique approach integrates evidence-based leadership frameworks with somatic practices, helping leaders develop not just mental skills, but the body-mind awareness that enables sustainable performance under pressure.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VON →

━ SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CONSULTATION

Bring this programme to your organisation.

Complete this form and we'll contact you within 24 hours with a virtual meeting time.

1.

Free Consultation Call

We discuss your needs, challenges, and goals (30–45 minutes).

2.

Customised Training Program

Receive a tailored solution with timeline and investment.

3.

Implementation Plan

Detailed roadmap for your organisation's transformation.

PREFER TO TALK DIRECTLY?

hello@physis.global

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Tell Us About Your Needs

Complete this form and we'll contact you within 24 hours with a virtual meeting time.

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━ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Common questions about this programme.

Is this programme HRDC claimable?

Yes. This programme is HRD Corp approved and 100% claimable under SBL-Khas. It meets the duration requirements for HRDC 1-day claimable training (7 hours). Submit through e-TRiS before training begins. Physis handles all documentation at no additional cost.

Who should attend this programme?

Team leaders, line managers, senior managers, department heads, HR business partners, and supervisors responsible for employee wellbeing. Suitable for organisations that want foundational mental health leadership capability without a full-day time commitment.

How is this different from Mental Health Awareness & First Aid programme?

Mental Health Awareness & First Aid: Wellbeing in the Workplace programme is appropriate for all employees who want to support colleagues. Mental Health Awareness for Leaders is a focused full-day programme specifically for people managers and team leaders, covering role clarity, early identification, supportive conversations, and escalation protocols.

Can this be customised for our organisation?

Yes. Case studies, role-play scenarios, and examples are customised for your industry and organisational context during pre-training consultation. We incorporate Malaysian workplace dynamics - hierarchy, face-saving, and cross-cultural communication - throughout the programme.

How many participants can attend?

Minimum 5, maximum 25 per session. For larger groups we can schedule multiple cohorts. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

Where is this training programmed delivered?

At your premises or a venue of your choice. Physis Global delivers across Klang Valley (KL and Selangor), Penang, Johor Bahru, and Malaysia-wide.

Is this available as a public programme?

Our programmes are currently delivered as in-house training - directly to your organisation's team, at your premises or a venue of your choice. We do not currently have open-enrolment public programmes.

This allows us to fully customise each session for the organisation and maintain the quality and relevance of the learning experience. Contact us to discuss your requirements and we will propose the right solution.