Recognising when a colleague is struggling can be the difference between someone getting the support they need and a problem going unnoticed, and this 2 day Mental Health First Aid course brings exactly that training to wherever your team is based. Delivered remotely using instructor-led online learning, the course content remains the same as classroom-based training, though delegates attend a scheduled, interactive class via Zoom video conferencing rather than travelling to a venue.
Developed by Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), the course aims to give those attending a thorough understanding of what mental health is and what can affect a person's wellbeing. Candidates learn practical skills that enable them to spot the signs of mental illness, and on completion they'll have the confidence to step in and support someone who needs help. The syllabus starts with the basics, covering depression, mental health, anxiety disorders, psychosis and self-harm, before moving into greater depth on conditions including alcohol and drug-related disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, personality disorders and eating disorders, alongside treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy.
Employers building a wider first aid capability across a remote or dispersed team often pair this course with the First Aid at Work Course, since physical and mental first aid increasingly sit together as part of a genuinely comprehensive workplace safety net. Delegates will also cover crisis first aid after a traumatic event, non-judgemental listening skills, and how to use the MHFA action plan, along with more specific topics such as suicide figures, first aid for a suicidal crisis, warning signs of developing psychosis, and self-care and recovery.
Please note that this course covers sensitive subject matter, including suicide and self-harm, which some delegates may find upsetting; anyone who feels overwhelmed is free to leave at any time, and colleagues should always be asked whether they'd feel comfortable attending before being booked onto the course.