Mental health struggles are no longer something people can leave behind when they go to work. More employees than ever are facing stress, anxiety, burnout, and other challenges during their work hours. These problems affect everything from focus and communication to performance and teamwork.
However, many workplaces have not adjusted to this new reality. The signs are clear: missed deadlines, emotional outbursts, and people withdrawing—but those around them often don’t know how to handle the situation. As a result, they end up doing nothing.
With increasing mental health concerns, the need for a more understanding and supportive work culture is becoming impossible to ignore. Yet the support needed to handle these situations in real-time is often lacking.
Traditional HR Approaches Have Limitations
HR departments have always been the main source of support for employees. However, their tools and systems are often inadequate when it comes to mental health. Most companies depend on policies, wellness benefits, or referrals to outside services. While these can be helpful, they don’t provide assistance in the critical moments when help is needed most.
If an employee is in distress, how many coworkers or managers feel ready to step in? HR might hand out brochures or direct people to an EAP hotline, but that doesn’t teach anyone how to calmly and safely help a colleague who is visibly struggling. This gap is not about a lack of care—it is about a lack of preparation.
Most people at work don’t have basic training on what to do when someone’s mental health deteriorates, let alone the tactical training provided by this program. That is why we urgently need new tools and new ways of thinking.
Project 55 Offers a Simple Way to Start
Project 55 was founded by mental health advocate and entrepreneur Justin Goodman and his friends, who are working to tackle this problem directly with a free training program that anyone can take at any time.
The Mental Health First Responder Training from Project 55 is designed for everyday people: co-workers, supervisors, and team leaders who want to learn how to help when someone is having a tough time.
The training covers mental health best practices, how to spot warning signs, what questions to ask and which ones to avoid, and how to safely step in if someone is in crisis. It also addresses how to support coworkers experiencing 14 different life events, like divorce or financial crisis, without overstepping boundaries or feeling overwhelmed.
The training is available online for free and can be used by individuals or teams. There is no need for budget approval, no license fees, and no outside vendors. It is simply a helpful tool that gives people the knowledge to make a difference in situations that might otherwise be ignored.
A Practical Option for Workplaces Ready to Do Better
Project 55 offers a smart option for companies that want to improve how they handle mental health without adding extra costs or complications. It doesn’t require a complete culture change or elaborate wellness programs. Instead, it simply gives workers the opportunity to learn how to support each other in meaningful, everyday ways.
The need for this kind of training is increasing as more teams are currently facing stress, uncertainty, and emotional burnout. As mental health becomes a more open topic, businesses will need more than just good intentions to keep up.
Project 55 provides a straightforward solution that is practical, clear, and ready for anyone to use to help people who are struggling around them.
