'Tea and Talk sessions' are just one way to support mental health'

Posters, QR codes linking to course details, and sign-up opportunities will be displayed across sites at XPO Logistics this week in support of Mental Health Awareness Week. Some locations will host “Tea and Talk” sessions. Here’s how one company trained up mental health first aiders to spearhead support.

XPO Logistics, an employer of 6,500 has reached a significant milestone, training over 100 Mental Health First (MHF) Aiders in the past three years, bringing the total number to 114. This achievement comes just in time for Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, whose theme, community, resonates strongly with how XPO Logistics has embedded mental health support across its UK and Ireland operations.

MHFA training has been part of XPO’s culture for over six years, with its roots deeply embedded in its site-level and national approach to safety, health, and wellbeing. “It’s been here ever since I joined,” says Julia Harrison, Learning and Development Specialist who plays a key role in coordinating the network. “We’ve always had a big internal push to make sure we have MHFAiders across all of our sites.”

Lynn Brown

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UK&I HR Director, XPO Logistics

A community of support offers help

Operating across numerous UK and Ireland sites, XPO Logistics MHFAider network forms a crucial part of its wellbeing infrastructure. Every location is supported by trained MHFAiders who are listed both locally and on the company’s intranet, allowing employees to choose someone they feel comfortable speaking to. A dedicated Teams channel keeps the MHFAider community connected, enabling peer support, knowledge sharing, and discussion of sensitive issues in a confidential space.

Beyond digital collaboration, XPO Logistics also organises periodic in-person sessions featuring guest speakers from partner charities such as Andy’s Man Club, helping MHFAiders expand their understanding of mental health resources available externally.