Mental health issues have become a significant concern in the modern workplace, with many employees struggling to cope with the demands of their jobs.
To cultivate a healthy and productive work environment, Mental Health First Aid is an indispensable asset for both employers and employees alike to address any concerns they have.
What is Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the immediate assistance given to a person who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.
First aid is given until professional treatment is obtained – or the crisis resolves.
Workplace MHFA training teaches individuals how to recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health issues, provide initial support, and guide the person towards appropriate professional help.
Why is Mental Health First Aid Important in the Workplace?
Workplaces play a critical role in promoting and maintaining the mental health and well-being of their employees. MHFA in the workplace can help to:
- Reduce the impact of mental health issues on employees and the workplace
- Promote early intervention and recovery
- Improve employee well-being and productivity
- Create a positive and supportive work culture
- Reduce the risk of suicide
These are just some of the reasons why MHFA is such an important tool for any workplace.
Women in full-time employment are nearly twice as likely to have a common mental health problem as full-time employed men (19.8% vs 10.9%)
Credit: Mental Health Foundation
How Can Employers Implement Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace?
There are numerous ways employers can implement MHFA in the workplace. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Provide MHFA training to employees: Staff should be trained in MHFA to be able to recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health issues and provide initial support.
- Promote a positive and supportive work culture: Employers should foster a culture of openness and inclusivity where employees feel comfortable discussing mental health issues.
- Provide access to professional support: Employers should provide employees with access to professional support, such as counselling and employee assistance programs.
- Implement or encourage the use of an Employee Assistance Program: An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential counselling service that provides employees and their families with professional support.
- Encourage physical activities and self-care: Employers should encourage employees to take part in physical activities and promote the importance of self-care.
Mental Health First Aid Training with Lightning Training Solutions
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a training course designed to help people learn how to recognise, respond and support those with mental health issues.
Our nationally recognised 12-hour training course provides participants with the knowledge and confidence to spot the signs of common mental health issues and intervene effectively.
By enrolling with Lightning Training Solutions, our MHFA courses help equip people with the skills to recognise early warning signs so they can feel confident in providing initial help, as well as ensuring proper referral to appropriate services.
By attending this training session, participants will gain an understanding of:
- mental health, stigma and discrimination
- be able to identify triggering factors associated with mental health problems
- have an awareness of local agencies that provide help
- understand how problem-solving and practical tasks aid recovery
- and be able to support someone through a crisis situation.
If you’re an employer looking for Mental Health First Training courses in Somerset, Devon, Cornwall or Wiltshire and want to know more, here is a breakdown of a typical timetable of topics, plus we can offer half day and full day courses.
Half Day: Identifying Mental Health Issues and Signposting Services
This half-day course is aimed at providing learners with the knowledge to identify suspected mental health conditions and to develop the skills to start a conversation, signposting the person towards professional help.
The following content is covered:
- What is First Aid for Mental Health?
- Identifying mental health conditions
- Providing advice and starting a conversation
- Stress
- Mental health conditions
Duration: A minimum of 4 hours. Ideally, the course should be run in one day, but must be completed within 2 weeks of starting the course, with each training session a minimum of two hours.
Numbers: A maximum of 12 students are allowed on the course and must be a minimum of 14 years of age. A certificate can be offered to all, either regulated via our partner subject to assessment.
Assessment: A range of methods are used, including practical and questioning (open and multiple-choice).
Certification: A Level 1 Award in 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 learners attend annual refresher training. They’ll need to complete the full course again to requalify for a further three years.
One Day: First Aid for Mental Health in the workplace
This popular one 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.
The following content is covered:
- 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
Duration: A minimum of 6 hours spread over at least one day. Ideally, the course should be run in one day.
Numbers: A maximum of 12 students are allowed on the course and must be a minimum of 14 years of age. A certificate can be offered to all, either regulated via our partner subject to assessment.
Assessment: A range of methods are used, including practical and questioning (open and multiple-choice).
Certification: A Level 2 Award in First Aid for Mental Health, 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.
Youth Mental First Aid
Everyone is susceptible to mental health, and many young people can struggle to cope with everyday pressures.
This may include:
- Technology, especially social media
- Pressures from peers
- Family issues
- School and college pressures
- Hormone changes
- Bullying or cyberbullying
Any of these pressures can cause mental health issues, which can lead to:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Self-harm
- Eating disorders
- Suicidal thoughts and actions
- A change in habits or behaviour
For staff working in secondary schools, 72% have noticed an increase in self-harm, 61% in suicidal thoughts, and 56% in eating difficulties among pupils.
Credit: Childrens Mental Health Week
Our Youth Mental Health First Aid training is an introductory course specifically designed for those who work with young people.
We’ve trained hundreds of people and anyone who works, lives or supports a young person from the age of 8 to 18 can benefit from this course.
Our comprehensive Youth MHFA course covers seven distinct modules, all designed to effectively analyse, assess and develop action plans for the mental health of young people.
Each module is carefully crafted to provide key insights into identifying and supporting individuals struggling with their mental health.
Course Duration: Each course lasts for around 6 hours, and should ideally take one day to complete.
Group Sessions: We can take on a maximum of 12 students who must be a minimum age of 14.
Certification & Assessment: Subject to assessment, a certificate can be offered through our regulated partners. Assessment is carried out through a mixture of both practical and written questioning through open and multiple-choice questions.
Upon completion and successful assessment, a Level 2 Award in First Aid for Youth Mental Health is awarded – valid for three years from the date of assessment.
It is strongly encouraged to undertake annual refresher training, which we can offer.
Did you know that a comprehensive MHFA book is included within the price,”unlike some other providers that sell it separately”?
Youth Mental Health First Aid For Schools
8 key principles can be applied to help protect and promote student emotional health & well-being (H&W).
If these concepts are consistently incorporated into practice, they will go a long way toward ensuring students’ overall mental well-being.
To find out more about these essential guidelines, we’ve dropped a link below.
It’s worth mentioning that this document also signposts to Ofsted inspection criteria, practice examples and resources to support implementation, and may be of interest to:
- School and college governing bodies
- Staff working in education settings
- School nurses
- Local public health teams
- Academy chains
- Others with a role of promoting H&W of children and learners
Document Link: Promoting children and young people’s emotional health and wellbeing (PDF)
Youth vs Workplace Mental Health First Aid
Some of our enquiries have led to confusion regarding the difference between workplace MHFA and Youth MHFA.
Age group
Mental Health First Aid in the workplace is primarily focused on providing support and resources to adult employees, while Youth Mental Health First Aid is focused on providing support to young people under the age of 18.
Training content
The training content for MHFA in the workplace is geared towards identifying and addressing common mental health issues that adults may experience in the workplace, such as stress, burnout, and depression.
Youth MHFA training, on the other hand, is tailored to the specific mental health needs and challenges that young people may face, such as bullying, self-harm, and substance abuse.
Delivery format
MHFA in the workplace is often delivered in a classroom setting, while Youth MHFA may be delivered in a variety of settings such as schools, Youth clubs, and community centres.
Objectives
MHFA in the workplace is designed to ensure that employees maintain a healthy and balanced mental state, while also maximising productivity.
The primary objective of Youth MHFA is to provide young people with the skills and resources they need to promote their mental well-being and prevent mental health issues from developing.
We’re more than happy to answer any further questions you may have on both MHFA at work or Youth Mental First Aid. Please contact us here.
Final Thoughts
Mental Health First Aid is an essential tool for addressing mental health issues in the workplace and promoting a healthy and productive workforce.
Employers have a responsibility to provide their employees with the support and resources they need to maintain their mental well-being.
By implementing MHFA, employers can create a positive and supportive work culture and reduce the impact of mental health issues on their employees and the workplace.
In partnership with Lightning Training Solutions, we can teach your staff the skills to recognise and respond appropriately to people who may be in emotional distress or suffering from a mental health issue.
Our team is highly experienced and we are flexible with organising dates and times to suit your needs.
We offer a certificate of attendance – valid for three years from the date of assessment. It is strongly encouraged to undertake annual refresher training to maintain the high standard of mental health awareness in your organisation.
Please get in touch with us if you would like to discuss this further. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
FAQs
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) in the workplace is the immediate assistance given to a person who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.
First aid is given until professional treatment is obtained or the crisis resolves.
MHFA training teaches individuals how to recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health issues, provide initial support, and guide the person towards appropriate professional help.
Mental Health First Aid in the workplace can benefit employees by helping them to better understand and manage their mental health problems, which can reduce the impact of these issues on their work and personal lives.
For businesses, MHFA can help to improve employee well-being and productivity, create a positive and supportive work culture, and reduce the impact of mental health issues at work.
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is the immediate assistance given to a young person who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.
YMHFA training teaches individuals how to recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health issues in young people, provide initial support, and guide the young person towards appropriate professional help.
YMHFA can benefit young people by providing them with the skills and resources they need to promote their mental well-being and prevent mental health issues from developing.
It can also benefit families by equipping them with the knowledge and tools they need to support their children’s mental well-being.