Training
Mental health first aid training
“Two members of staff were very happy with the excellent First Aid training they completed last week. They found it very informative especially with the latest information about defibrillators. Thank you to The Health & Safety Dept.“Alba, Beverage Company,
“When questions arise around health and safety, it’s comforting to know I have an expert on hand to help, I don’t have to go and research for the answer or take a guess, I simply pick up the phone and get the answers from the professionals, as The Health & Safety Dept are always available and always respond rapidly with tailored advice and support.”Alan Sanderson, Safe Building Scheme,
“We particularly value the friendliness and responsiveness of the service and are confident that we have protected our organisation from potential risks and liabilities in these important yet complex areas.”
It’s ok to not be ok!
Approximately one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year.
The number of people with mental health problems is on the rise. Worries about things like money, jobs and benefits make it harder for people to cope, especially when they are at work.
How well people deal with mental health problems is declining. This is shown by the fact that the number of people who self-harm or have suicidal thoughts is increasing. Many are reluctant to seek help or simply don’t know where to turn for advice.
Spotting the signs of mental health issues before they become significant to a person is really important. It’s crucial to be proactive to support those in your business as they manage their mental health.
It has never been more important for everyone to understand the warning signs and risk factors.
Even when friends and family of someone developing a mental illness recognise something’s amiss, they may not know how to intervene or direct the person to treatment.
All too often, those in need of mental health services do not get them until it is too late.
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What is mental health first aid?
Mental health first aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to the first signs of mental illnesses or substance abuse in your staff.
Our mental health first aid training courses introduce participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health concerns, building a better understanding of their impact on individuals and providing an overview of common treatments. Through role-playing and simulations, the courses demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis, select interventions, provide initial help, and connect people to professional, peer and social support as well as self-help resources.
Mental health first aid encourages early detection and intervention, teaching participants about the signs and symptoms of specific illnesses like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and addictions.
We offer three mental health first aid courses
Level 1 award in awareness of first aid for mental health
1/2 day
This awareness course is suitable for everyone. It provides learners with the knowledge to recognise a suspected mental health condition, and the skills to start a conversation and signpost a person towards professional help.
Level 2 award in first aid for mental health
This one-day course provides learners with the knowledge to identify suspected mental health conditions, and the skills to start a conversation and signpost the person towards professional help. But it also expands on the effects of drugs and alcohol, incorporates the first aid for mental health action plan, and covers ways in which a positive mental health culture can be supported within a workplace.
Level 3 award in supervising first aid for mental health
This two-day course goes into detail on a wide range of mental health conditions, and the support and help provided by healthcare professionals. It covers the content of both the level 1 and level 2 qualifications, but is aimed at supervisors and managers within the workplace.
How your business will benefit from mental health first aid
Taking part in a mental health first aid training course has a whole host of benefits for both employers and employees. These include raising awareness of mental illness, encouraging early intervention to aid recovery, increasing confidence in dealing with mental illness and reducing stigma around mental health issues.
There’s ignorance of mental health issues, especially in workplaces. While many are uncertain how to recognise mental health and substance abuse-related illnesses, some are unclear how to react when faced with it.
Mental health first aid training makes you informed and aware and is a key component in creating a safe, happy and productive workplace. You’ll have the tools to not only support your own mental health but that of your colleagues, too. Anyone taking part in the training will be able to spot early signs and symptoms of mental health issues and provide the right support whilst helping to reduce employer’s losses linked with mental health issues.
Why choose The H&S Dept for mental health first aid?
Our courses provide the necessary skills and knowledge to give your employees confidence when dealing with mental health illnesses at work.
Your employees will learn from industry-leading first aiders, who’ll teach you how to spot signs and symptoms of mental health issues before they become significant to a person. Our first aiders provide your employees with potentially lifesaving skills and knowledge they can not only use at work but in day-to-day life, too.
At The H&S Dept, we believe mental health first aid training should be simple and easy to understand — and that’s why we have a strict no jargon policy. What’s more, our courses are quick and easy to sign-up for, all you need to do is pick up the phone to book a space.
Our team is on-hand to support you post-course, too. Whether it’s to answer any questions or help you book a refresher course. And for extra peace of mind, we’ll provide relevant resources and materials, offering additional advice, tips and information.
MHFA FAQs
As much as we think it should be, mental health training is not a legal requirement. Mental health is just as important as physical health, so we highly recommend that every business has at least one mental health first aider. This will ensure your business is equipped to spot signs and symptoms of mental health illness, as well as having someone who knows how to deal with it.
As per the Health and Safety Executives (HSE) recent recommendation, ‘mental health trained first aiders’ should be included as part of employers’ first aid needs assessments.
As with physical first aid, MHFA (Mental Health First Aid) training expires after three years.
The Health & Safety Dept recommends that mental health first aiders and MHFA Champions complete a course refresher every three years. As well as keeping your skills in tip-top shape, you’ll be up to date on the latest knowledge, support and practises relevant to mental health first aid.
You can book your refresher course by giving us a call today.
Mental health training is recommended for all types of businesses with employees. No matter what sector you’re in, your employees and colleagues’ mental health should be a top priority, on a par with their physical health and well-being.
This depends on the type of course you pick, which depends on what you want to learn. We have one and two-day courses for employees, managers and supervisors, that cover everything from the basics of mental health illness to the effects of drugs and alcohol.
Mental health first aid training helps you spot signs and symptoms of mental health, as well as how to assist someone experiencing mental health or substance abuse-related illness. As part of our first aid courses, your employees will learn the risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction, strategies for supporting someone in urgent and non-urgent situations, and where to turn for help.
While our mental health training courses are open to anyone, they require a core set of soft skills that will ensure you’re able to support anyone in your workplace who may be suffering from mental health illness. These include being an active listener, showing empathy, having a non-judgmental attitude, demonstrating compassion, and being confident enough to react calmly, quickly and effectively.
Our mental health training courses will teach you to be all these things, giving you the skills required to help anyone suffering from mental health or substance abuse-related illness.
Whether it’s holding workplace activities, providing a platform for discussion, introducing exclusive policies, launching employee assistance programmes, or simple things like educating your team about mental health, explaining the concept of stress or leading by example — there are lots of ways to raise awareness for mental health in the workplace.
Of course, not all businesses will be able to do everything we’ve spoken about here, but it’s about looking at your business currently, and addressing what you think is most important with the resources you have available.
Every business needs at least one mental health first aider. And if it’s a large organisation with multiple teams, we recommend one per team or office.
When deciding how many MHFAs (Mental Health First Aider) your business needs, think about how many physical first aiders you have, because they are the same level of importance. It’s key that the person suffering from mental health or substance abuse-related illness has quick and easy access to the support they need.
It’s the responsibility of the mental health first aider to act fast at the first sign of mental health or substance abuse-related illness, providing support, guidance and advice. As well as being the first point of contact when an employee or colleague is struggling, the first aider acts as a mental health advocate in the workplace, reducing stigma and encouraging positive change.
It’s important to know that mental health first aiders cannot diagnose a person with a specific mental health condition — they are not professional therapists or counsellors and neither should they be seen as a replacement for professional treatment. Instead, they can help identify symptoms and causes of mental health problems, and suggest things that may improve an employee’s health.
“Two members of staff were very happy with the excellent First Aid training they completed last week. They found it very informative especially with the latest information about defibrillators. Thank you to The Health & Safety Dept.“Alba, Beverage Company
“When questions arise around health and safety, it’s comforting to know I have an expert on hand to help, I don’t have to go and research for the answer or take a guess, I simply pick up the phone and get the answers from the professionals, as The Health & Safety Dept are always available and always respond rapidly with tailored advice and support.”Alan Sanderson, Safe Building Scheme
“We particularly value the friendliness and responsiveness of the service and are confident that we have protected our organisation from potential risks and liabilities in these important yet complex areas.”
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