If you have ever worried about saying the wrong thing when a colleague or loved one is struggling, you are not alone. A simple mental health first aid (MHFA) acronym can help you respond with calm and care when it matters most. The right response can reduce risk, encourage early help, and support recovery.
Whether you are a busy professional, a team leader, or the person friends turn to, learning a clear process removes the guesswork. You will feel more confident, and the person in front of you will feel heard and safe.
In this article, we will demystify the ALGEE action plan, share practical scripts you can use today, and show how workplaces can embed evidence based support that improves culture and performance.
What is ALGEE?
ALGEE is the MHFA acronym used globally to guide a supportive response to someone experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. It stands for Assess for risk of harm, Listen non-judgmentally, Give reassurance and information, Encourage appropriate professional help, and Encourage self help and other supports.
Think of ALGEE as a conversation roadmap. It is not therapy and it does not replace clinical care. It helps you notice concerns early, respond with empathy, and link the person to the right support.
Why it Matters
Early, compassionate support reduces the duration and impact of distress, improves help seeking, and lowers risk. Psychological safety at work increases engagement, retention, and performance. Australian workplaces are seeing more psychological injury claims, which adds urgency to prevention and early support. You can read more about this trend in our article Workplace mental health claims set to double by 2030.
Listening well regulates the stress response. When someone feels believed and supported, cortisol settles, clear thinking improves, and problem solving becomes possible. Evidence based performance strategies show that small, skilled actions from peers and leaders can shift outcomes meaningfully. For a deeper look at how environments shape behaviour, see What is psychological safety.
For foundations and guidance, explore MHFA Australia’s program overview at Mental Health First Aid Australia.
ALGEE in Action Step by Step
1. Assess For Risk Of Harm
What to do: Check for immediate danger, including signs of self harm, suicidal thoughts, or harm to others. If there is an immediate risk, call emergency services and stay with the person if it is safe to do so.
Why it helps: Safety first. Clear assessment prevents escalation and ensures timely support.
Try this: “You seem really overwhelmed. Are you feeling unsafe or having thoughts about harming yourself today?”
2. Listen Non-judgmentally
What to do: Give your full attention. Allow pauses. Reflect back what you hear without fixing or minimising.
Why it helps: Feeling heard reduces stress and builds trust, which improves help seeking.
Try this: “I am hearing that the workload and lack of sleep are piling up. That sounds really hard. Tell me more about what today has been like?”
3. Give Reassurance And Information
What to do: Normalise help seeking. Share accurate, simple information about support options and recovery. Avoid making promises you cannot keep.
Why it helps: Hope and clarity reduce fear and isolation. Accurate information counters myths.
Try this: “Many people go through something similar and do get better with the right support. We can look at options together so you are not doing this alone.”
4. Encourage Appropriate Professional Help
What to do: Suggest speaking with a GP, psychologist, or calling support services. At work, remind them of EAP and confidential pathways.
Why it helps: Professional care provides assessment and treatment. Early care improves outcomes.
Try this: “Would you be open to booking a longer GP appointment this week I can help you find a time. If you prefer, we can start with EAP which is confidential.”
5. Encourage Self Help And Other Supports
What to do: Help the person identify small actions that restore stability. Focus on sleep, movement, nutrition, routines, and social support.
Why it helps: Simple routines regulate energy and mood and support recovery.
Try this: “What usually helps? Even a little short walk at lunch or a regular bedtime might take the edge off this week.”
Practical Tools You Can Use Today
Conversation Starters
- “I have noticed you have been quieter in meetings. How are you going?”
- “What has been the hardest part of this week for you?”
- “What would feel most helpful right now?”
Micro Skills That Build Trust
- Set your phone face down and make eye contact
- Use short reflections You are feeling exhausted and stuck
- Ask open questions What is one small step we could take today
- Validate It makes sense you feel this way given the pressure
When To Escalate
- They express intent to self harm or harm others
- They report hallucinations, severe withdrawal, or cannot care for themselves
- You feel out of your depth or concerned about immediate safety
If in doubt, seek urgent help by calling emergency services, contacting a crisis line, or speaking with a health professional.
How to Build a Healthy Routine That Supports Mental Health
1. Sleep On Purpose
Set a consistent lights out and wake time, even on weekends. Good sleep stabilises mood and sharpens thinking. For deeper insights, explore The impact of sleep on performance.
2. Move Every Day
Even ten minutes improves mood and focus. Schedule a walking meeting or a short mobility break every hour. Movement supports mental clarity at work.
3. Eat For Steady Energy
Anchor your day with protein rich meals and plenty of plants. Balanced meals reduce crashes that can amplify anxiety and irritability.
4. Use Brief Breathwork
Try four seconds in and six seconds out for two minutes before a tough conversation. This calms the nervous system and improves listening.
5. Set Boundaries That Stick
Protect recovery time by batching notifications and adding a hard stop for work. Consistency beats intensity. For practical strategies, see Right to disconnect.
What Can Employers do?
- Train leaders in ALGEE: Build baseline skills to recognise and respond early
- Make access clear: Promote EAP, GP pathways, and crisis lines regularly
- Create a simple protocol: Define who to contact, what to document, and how to follow up
- Model healthy work: Encourage breaks, reasonable workloads, and predictable hours
- Measure and iterate: Track leading indicators like help seeking, workload, and recovery
- Invest in culture: Foster psychological safety so people speak up early.
For a broader framework that aligns wellbeing with performance, explore Mental fitness in corporate wellbeing and Stress management techniques for high performers.
ALGEE and Beyond Putting it all Together
ALGEE is your immediate response plan. Beyond that, build simple routines, supportive relationships, and clear workplace systems. This combination reduces risk, improves recovery, and sustains performance. It also makes it easier for caring colleagues and leaders to help without burning out. If you lead others, set the tone by checking in regularly, listening well, and modelling boundaries. If you are supporting a friend, remember that your presence, patience, and a gentle nudge toward help can change the trajectory of their week.
Key Takeaways
- The mental health first aid acronym ALGEE gives you a clear, compassionate action plan
- Listening without judgement reduces stress and increases help seeking
- Early support and simple routines improve mood, energy, and performance
- Workplaces that train leaders and clarify pathways see better engagement and safety
- You do not need to fix everything. Stay present, encourage help, and follow up
If you are ready to equip your people with practical skills that stick, get in touch with Better Being for tailored support.
