First Aid For Mental Health
One in four people in the UK will have a mental health problem at some point in their lifetime.
While mental health problems are common, most are mild, tend to be short term and can be successfully treated using professional therapies, medication, self-help techniques or a combination of these treatment methods.
Mental health is about how we think, feel and behave. Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health problems. They are often a reaction to a difficult life event such as bereavement but can also be caused by work related issues.
Where work-related stress is prolonged, it can lead to both physical and psychological damage, including anxiety and depression. Work can also aggravate pre-existing conditions, and problems at work can bring on symptoms or make their effects worse.
Whether work is causing the health issue or aggravating it, employers have a legal responsibility to help their employees. Work-related mental health issues must be assessed to measure the levels of risk to staff. Where a risk is identified, steps must be taken to remove it or reduce it as far as is reasonably practicable.
Some employees with have pre-existing physical or mental health conditions when recruited or may develop one caused by factors that are not work related.
Their employees may have further legal requirements to make reasonable adjustments under equalities legislation.
First Aid for Mental Health
First aid for mental health is the initial support provided to a person experiencing a mental health problem until professional help is received or until the crisis is resolved.
In 2017 the UK government commissioned Lord Stevenson and Paul Farmer (Chief Executive of Mind) to independently review the role employers can play to better support individuals with mental health conditions in the workplace.
The ‘Thriving at Work’ report sets out a framework of actions called ‘Core Standards’ that the reviewers recommend employers of all sizes can and should put in place. The core standards have been designed to help employers improve the mental health of their workplace and enable individuals with mental health conditions to thrive.
The aims of First Aid for mental health course include:
- Preserve life where a person could be a danger to themselves or others
- Alleviate suffering by providing immediate comfort and support
- Prevent the condition from developing into a more serious problem
- Promote recovery of good mental health by signposting and obtaining professional support
A range of subjects are covered including:
- What is First Aid for Mental Health?
- Identifying mental health conditions
- Starting a possibly difficult conversation
- Providing emphatic listening
- Providing advice/signposting
This course is suitable for everyone within a workplace as it provides learners with the knowledge to identify suspected mental health conditions as well as the skills to start a conversation and be able to signpost a person towards professional help.
Roles and Responsibilities of the First Aiders for Mental Health
- To be the main point of contact for anyone who is going through some form of mental health problem
- Identifying the early signs and symptoms of mental ill-health
- Start supportive conversations with people experiencing a mental health problem
- Listen non-judgementally and provide re-assurance
- Assess the risk of self-harm and suicide
- To signpost and encourage appropriate professional support
- Reduce the stigma attached to mental health and promote awareness
- Summon the appropriate emergency services if necessary
- To maintain confidentiality and provide an ongoing supportive working environment
Considerations for choosing the First Aiders for Mental Health
First Aiders for mental health should:
- Be open and approachable
- Be a good listener
- Be accepting of others
- Be comfortable talking about difficult topics
- Be trustworthy
- Be respectful of others privacy
- Be considerate to differences in culture, beliefs, values and sexual orientation
- Have a genuine interest in the well-being of others
- Ideally have a firm grasp of the English language including written and oral
- Be comfortable being assessed via practical and written (open and multiple-choice questions) methods
Certifications
Upon successful completion of the qualification assessment, Learners will be awarded the Ofqual regulated Level 2 Award in First Aid for Mental Health (RQF)/Award in First Aid for Mental Health at SCQF Level 5. This qualification is valid for three years from the date of achievement. It is strongly recommended that the learner attends annual refresher training. The learner will need to complete the full course again to re-qualify for a further three years.
Full Day Course: First Aid for Mental Health
In person (classroom setting) or online via Zoom
This 1-Day course covers the content of the Level 1 course but 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.
Duration:
6 – 8 hours spread over at least one day.
Syllabus:
A range of First Aid for Mental Health related subjects are covered including:
- What is First Aid for Mental Health?
- Identifying mental health conditions
- Providing advice and starting a conversation
- Stress
- Mental health conditions
- Drugs and alcohol
- First Aid for Mental Health action plan
- First Aid for Mental Health in the workplace
Numbers:
A maximum of 10 students are allowed on the course and must be a minimum of 14 years old.
Certification:
Awareness for First Aid for Mental Health will be issued to the learner, subject to successful assessment. This qualification is valid for three years from the date of achievement. It is strongly recommended that the learner attends annual refresher training. The learner will need to complete the full course again to requalify for a further three years.
Assessment:
A range of methods are used, including practical and questioning (open and multiple-choice)
Includes:
First Aid for Mental Health reference book & Certification
Price:
Please enquire for prices (guidelines suggest a minimum of two people within a business should be trained as Mental Health First Aiders rather than full responsibility being on one individual)