Peer support for psychological strain: contact persons in the team
People under psychological strain often talk to a colleague first – not to their manager and not to a counselling service. Peer support turns this into an offer: trained contact persons from among colleagues who listen and show the way to professional help. This guide describes how to set it up.
What may the contact persons do – and what not?
They listen, take things seriously and refer on: to the GP, to a psychotherapeutic consultation, to a counselling service of the company, to telephone counselling. They do not counsel and do not treat. This limit protects both sides and belongs in writing in the role description.
How does it stay confidential?
What is said in a conversation does not go to managers or HR, and nobody keeps lists. The only exception is acute danger – then help comes first, in an emergency via the emergency number 112. Agree the rules with the works council where there is one.
What does it take?
Volunteers from different areas, training, for example in mental health first aid, and regular exchanges with a specialist so that the contact persons are not left alone. You will find training providers in the marketplace. Time spent on conversations is working time.
How do you put the measure in place?
- 1Recruit volunteers from different areas and have them trained for their role
- 2Put the role and its limits in writing: listen, take seriously, refer on
- 3Compile a list of sources of help: GP, psychotherapeutic consultation, counselling service, telephone counselling, in an emergency 112
- 4Make the contact persons known and enable them to have regular exchanges with a specialist
Plan, invite, measure participation: EasyWHP, which offers WHPCompass free of charge, sets this measure up as a project, invites the workforce and shows how many people take part. How a measure runs in EasyWHP →
What do you need for it?
- Effort
- half a day
- Cost
- with budget
- Duration
- 8 weeks to set up, then ongoing
- Setup
- 480 min
- ✓ A low-threshold first contact within your own company
- ✓ Colleagues know where to refer people
- ✓ Clear limits: listening yes, counselling and treatment no
- ✓ Confidentiality is settled from the start
Tax and health insurance: what is possible
Employer health benefits can be tax-free under § 3 no. 34 of the German Income Tax Act (EStG) up to €600 per employee per year — if they are provided in addition to the salary already owed and are either certified (§ 20 SGB V) or implemented within the company's health promotion process. Gym memberships and corporate fitness are not covered. For ZPP-certified courses (e.g. from Upfit), German statutory health insurers can reimburse all or part of the course fee to their insured members — then only the amount exceeding that reimbursement is tax-free. Projects within the company can be funded under § 20b SGB V, with no entitlement. Only your tax adviser can confirm the tax exemption.
Health insurance and tax: how to proceed →How it works in EasyWHP
This Best Practice in EasyWHP: adopt it, adapt it, measure the effect
Once adopted, the measure is ready in EasyWHP — with instructions, an invitation and surveys before and after. You adapt what fits your company and see at the end what it achieved.
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Action field
Stress & Mental Health →A fitting occasion
Related Best Practices
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