Mental health first aid

Its relatively easy to see the gaps we’ve been missing as a society, all generally aware of physical health. As such, it is good common sense to go to doctor if you feel ill.

Two day MHFA course – this is the most comprehensive training, and the ONLY one which qualifies you as a Mental Health First Aider.

On this course you will increase your knowledge around a variety of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. You will learn some practical tools for supporting friends, family and co-workers. As a mental health first aider you will feel confident as a first responder in crisis situations and know how to guide someone towards appropriate support. You will receive a certificate on completion which does not have an expiry date. MHFA England recommend that you attend a refresher course every two – three years to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.

The one day course is recommended for those who want to create a mentally healthy environment in their workplace. It does not qualify you as a Mental Health First AIDER. 

MHFA One Day Champion course – On this MHFA Training you will learn about the most common mental health problems including how to identify when someone is experiencing mental distress.  You will feel more confident supporting others and you will know how to signpost appropriately. The one day mental health first course covers the  ALGEE action plan, and how to use it. This course is often recommended for line managers, supervisors, deputies. The course includes two sessions: Mental Health First Aid & Mental Health First Aid action plan

This half-day course is 4 hours in duration and raises awareness around Mental Health.

Mental Health Aware Half Day course –  This half day MHFA training  is a basic introduction to mental health, and why it is important. It introduces some common mental health challenges and discusses how to spot them. During this four hour course you will learn how to talk to someone who may be experiencing mental ill health, and feel more confident speaking about mental health with colleagues, friends or family. The course also will also equip you with some tools to look after your own mental health.The  Mental Health Awareness Training  includes such topics as Stigma, Depression, Anxiety Disorders etc. 

All courses come with course materials a manual and a workbook. The books are helpful resources to refresh your knowledge as well as support your own mental health, both during and after the course.  Books are included in the course price.

The pricing is for the public courses. If you want to book a group we offer discount up to 30% off. Get in touch with us now and get a quote in minutes. 

Mental Health First Aid is not unlike physical first aid: help offered for someone suffering from ill health, in this case mental ill health. Mental Health First Aid courses will also teach you to spot earlier signs and symptoms of common mental health problems, such as anxiety,  depression, schizophrenia, etc. With the knowledge and tools learned in the course, individuals will be able to to deliver mental health first aid before professional medical treatment is available. The aims of mental health first aid are to:

• Preserve life
• Prevent further harm
• Promote recovery
• Provide comfort to the person who suffers  

Please note that as a qualified Mental Health First Aider, or someone who has undertaken a Mental Health First Aid course, you will not be able diagnose or treat, but you can identify  symptoms of anxiety, depresion, eating disorders, amongst other challenges, and encourage someone to seek professional help.These courses do not teach you to be a counsellor or therapist, but will empower you to react and signpost when someone in mental distress may need professional help.

We are all human beings before we are workers, and all of us have both physical and mental health. We know what can cause physical illness but we are not always aware of the reasons behind ill mental health. And when we see someone suffering mental health ill very often we don’t have right words or right actions to take, especially, in the workplace. It is very important  that all staff are aware of how to take care of their own mental health, as well as know how to support each other.

Positive mental health in the workplace not only helps your business goals, but also improves employee satisfaction and retention. Any mental health first aid courses can  improve wellbeing in the workplace. We highly recommend anyone interested in becoming a Mental Health FIrst Aider attend the two day course, and implementing the one or half  day course for all of the employees in the organisation. The course will raise mental health awareness, start conversations in your workplace and teach employees to support each other. Additionally, the course will help you create an action plan for a positive climate in the workplace.

Recovering from mental ill health can vary amongst individuals, as does length of recovery. While some individuals respond quickly to treatment and recover quickly, recovery can often be episodic for others. Still others have a longer recovery journey which can involve medication, self-help, attending therapy. It is important for workplaces to support employees in their recovery, and the Mental Health First Aid courses are a great starting point to understand how to create inclusive environments for people in recovery.

We recommend having as many mental health first aiders in the workplace as you have physical first aiders.

Mental health first aid course is particularly recommended for line managers and their teams for several reasons:

• You will be able to create healthier environment in your workplace for your team.
• You will be able spot an employee suffering from mental health issue and support them at work
• You will help to prevent further mental health illness  development
• Finally, you will be able to maintain your own mental health and wellbeing.  

Mental health first aid is designed to support people who experience ill mental health. The person who is trained as a Mental Health First Aider is able to help someone who is experiencing mental health issues as well as try to prevent, or help during a mental health crisis. It is worth mentioning that Mental Health First Aider is not someone who prescribes treatment or determines diagnosis. The MHF Aider role is very similar to a physical first aider. For instance, if you saw someone who has broken a leg, you would give first aid until the paramedics stepped in, but not continue treatment. Mental Health First Aid is designed to follow the exact same process – you support the individual, and assist with the situation until professional care can be administered. Mental health first aid training gives you structure and strategies to utilise if you encounter someone who experiences depression, distress, psychosis, and other psychological conditions. After the course you will be able to better identify symptoms like depression, anxiety, suicidal behavior, eating disorders, self- harm, psychosis etc. You will be able to react in a supportive way, ask the right questions, with a view  to de-escalating the situation. It is very handy ‘toolkit’ to have. Everyone has mental health, whether they are in your workplace, school, or family. So what would you do if you saw someone in distress? The training provides with the detailed plan – this is called the ALGEE action plan. The acronym stands for Approach, Listen, Give support, Encourage to seek professional support, Encourage support others. The course itself is interesting and interactive. The delegates participate in various role play scenarios and case studies. You will learn interesting and relevant statistics around mental health – for example, did you know that in the UK more people die because of poor mental health (suicide)  than in a car accident?   Who is it for? Mental Health First Aid Training is for everyone. First of all it is for you. It helps to look after your own mental health and help yourself. You will feel more confident to speak about mental health issues with your family members, work colleagues and even strangers. If your work environment is very social you might want to consider becoming a Mental Health First Aider. Other areas where mental health training is useful are: working as a teacher, manager, police officer, nurse, social worker or any other professional.   How to get mental health training? Look for the training location and dates on www.sirentraining.co.uk or firstaidcourselondon.com You can book yourself on a public course, or book a group for your workplace.  If you are looking to book a course, make sure that you receive an official MHFA England certificate. MHFA England is the only organisation who is licensed to train instructors and provide a certificate that is recognised in the workplace. There are 3 types of Mental Health First Aid training – 2 day Mental Health First Aid (this course will certify you as a Mental Health First Aider), 1 day Mental Health First Aid (this course will teach you ALGEE action plan, but you are not certified as a Mental Health First Aider), Half Day Mental Health First Aid Course (the course designed purely to raise awareness around mental health). If you have just started researching about the Mental Health Training, you may find the process confusing. You will find tons of companies who provide Mental Health First Aid training. So how do you choose the right provider? The only company who trains trainers is MHFA England. The same trainers work across different training providers. The main criteria choosing Mental Health First Aid Training are date, location and price. Essentially, you get the same certificate whether you booked with company A or B,C,D.

Mental Health First aid is important for several core reasons.

• Ill mental health is very common.  Research indicates that one in four people suffers from anxiety, panic or depression.  It is very likely that someone in your immediate environment, whether in the workplace, home or neighborhood has or will experience ill mental health. Feeling equipped to help a family member or friend who may need it is a valuable tool.
• Mental health is still stigmatised in our society. Stigma negatively affects those who experience ill mental health and can delay recovery. When people feel ashamed to speak about their problems with others, they might not get the help they need. By beginning to have conversations about mental health with our friends and family and in our workplaces, we can start to decrease stigma and promote positive, safe environments for anyone to discuss their mental health. Additionally, speaking up about our mental health encourages others to do the same, and can normalise mental health. Mental health and physical health should be considered equally important, as they are both integral parts of personal and public wellbeing.
• Many of us are misinformed about mental health. For example, a very common myth about mental health is that those with mental issues are dangerous for society. By raising awareness mental health, we can debunk discriminatory and harmful myths, help people take care of their own wellbeing as well as help others.
• Parity of esteem. In many respects, a mental health illnesses is similar to a physical  ailment- The longer diagnosis and treatment are delayed the higher the risk for longer term consequences. Just like we know that eating healthy foods helps our physical abilities, healthy mental habits can be equally as important to mental health. Likewise, the sooner a problem is spotted, the quicker the recovery.
• In emergency situations, we can often feel that we don’t know how to advise, or act.A  Mental Health First Aid courses teaches participants an action plan to use in case of emergencies. This plan is easy to remember and effective in taking steps to help someone who may need it while  making the environment safe for everyone involved.

All our MHFA Training Courses are delivered by MHFA England certified trainers. You will receive an MHFA England certificate