Private organisations, public bodies, educational institutions as well as non-government organisations are eligible for joining the Charter.
Organisations signing the Charter may choose to attain either of the two titles, namely a "Mental Health-Friendly Organisation" or a "Mental Health-Friendly Supreme Organisation", by completing a designated number of action items from a list of 12 options (coded from A to L) which carries the following objectives –
The actions to be taken to attain the title Mental Health Friendly Organisation or Mental Health Friendly Supreme Organisation are set out in the table below –
| Mental Health Friendly Organisation | To complete at least THREE action items under Objective I of the List of Action Items |
| Mental Health Friendly Supreme Organisation | To complete at least THREE action items each under Objectives I and II of the List of Action |
For a complete list of actions items, please refer the table below.
| Item | Action | Examples |
| Objective I - To promote mental well-being at the workplace, which includes building a respectful and positive work environment, promoting active listening and communication, encouraging help-seeking, and facilitating early identification and timely treatment of mental distress (A-H, eight items) | ||
| A | Organise corporate family gatherings that facilitate exchange, as well as enjoyable and interesting activities | Organise corporate family fun days and festival celebrations Organise interest groups, voluntary activities (e.g. visits to residential care homes for the elderly), sport activities and other recreation activities |
| B | Organise talks/workshops/activities to strengthen the positive mind and mutual respect of staff during work | Arrange talks/workshops/activities regarding positive thinking, stress management, resilience building, listening, giving feedback and conflict resolution |
| C | Promote exchange of information on mental health | Raise awareness on common mental health issues such as anxiety and depression |
| D | Encourage help-seeking behaviour by providing information on mental health support services | Arrange for a hotline, counsellors and employee assistance programmes |
| E | Organise talks on mental health | Arrange for speakers with expert knowledge or personal experience to conduct in-depth discussions |
| F | Offer training to staff to equip them with basic skills in resolving conflicts, providing peer support and handling mental health emergencies | Organise or arrange for staff to attend training courses on mental health and communication skills. Provide guidance on offering peer support, covering topics such as the ways to start a conversation regarding mental health and listen with a respectful and non-judgmental attitude |
| G | Encourage colleagues to listen to each other and share mental health-related experiences | Encourage colleagues to listen to each other and share mental health-related experiences, e.g. sharing the ways they deal with stress, anxiety or depressive mood in a voluntary manner; senior staff members may also organise sharing sessions and lead the discussions |
| H | Introduce a mentorship scheme to facilitate exchange on mental health-related concerns | Make use of informal settings to listen, encourage help-seeking and promote healing |
| Objective II - To create an inclusive and friendly workplace environment for colleagues with mental distress (I-L, four items) | ||
| I | Assign a team/coordinator to implement the measures committed | Arrange for a staff member or team to follow up on the action items committed by your organisation and collect feedback |
| J | Formulate human resources policies to care for employees with mental health needs and provide them with an environment that facilitates their recovery | Arrange suitable positions/work environment for colleagues with mental health needs; build an environment that encourages colleagues to receive necessary medical treatment/attend training courses on mental health (e.g. setting flexible working hours); adjust work arrangements to help employees with mental health needs return to work |
| K | Implement measures to promote work-life balance | Implement a five-day week work mode; provide employees with incentives, special leaves (e.g. family care leave) or flexible working hours with regard to their personal development, interests, or special needs Avoid arranging for work outside office hours unless it is occasional and strictly unavoidable Prioritise work Communicate regularly with employees to better understand their individual needs and provide appropriate assistance |
| L | Offer job opportunities to persons recovered or recovering from mental health issues | Recruit the job seekers concerned through the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department or relevant non-governmental organisations |