On-site Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

In recognition of offering more preventative interventions that can support the emotional health of the workforce, on-site Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training can offer a more proactive approach to mental health issues within the workplace. Selected employees can be educated on the common signs and symptoms of mental health issues that supports the effective management of mental wellbeing and the wellbeing of their peers.

MHFA Course Objectives

Health Assured’s trainers use the Mental Health First Aid England (MHFAE) Adult course that was funded as part of a national approach to improving awareness of mental health problems in England. The MHFAE course is an internationally recognised programme, running in over 20 countries around the world. It is therefore ideally situated to provide knowledge and insight into identifying, understanding and helping others in the work place who may be developing mental health issues. MHFA Adult is a two-day educational course, designed by MHFAE that teaches people how to identify, understand and help a person who may be developing a mental health issue. In the same way that people learn physical first aid, MHFA teaches individuals how to recognise those crucial warning signs of mental ill health. The aim of the course is to empower both the participating employees and in turn the workplace to effectively understand and support others in mental health and wellbeing. Over the two-day course, the employees will cover four sections, which will provide them with knowledge and an understanding of:

• Spotting the early signs of a mental health problem.
• Feeling confident to help someone who is experiencing a problem.
• Helping to prevent someone from hurting themselves or others.
• Helping to stop mental ill health from getting worse.
• Helping someone recover faster.
• Guiding someone towards the right support.
• Reducing the stigma of mental health problems.

As required by MHFAE, every employee that participates in the course receives a manual, workbook and a ‘Z card’ which can be added to a workplace lanyard to identify trained Mental Health First Aiders. The resources provided include a wealth of information that would not otherwise be accessible and can be used as a point of reference both during the training and post-course.

Course Delivery

Section 1 - Mental Health First Aid Section one works as an introductory session to MHFA. It covers what MHFA is and why MHFA is a proactive tool and preventative measure for any workplace; identifying reasons and benefits of the training course.

Section 2 - Depression Section two covers the topic of depression, exploring what depression is, the symptoms of depression, the varying effects of depression, spotting the signs of depression in others (changes in physical appearance, attitudes/thinking, substance and alcohol misuse etc…) and the risk factors involved with depression.

Section 3 - Anxiety Disorders What is anxiety? This section of the course aims to develop the employee’s knowledge on anxiety. This includes the general symptoms of anxiety (physical, psychological and behavioural), the various types of anxiety disorders and issues and the risk factors associated with anxiety disorders.

Section 4 - Psychosis This section aims to develop an understanding of what psychosis is and the symptoms that might be prevalent when a psychotic disorder is developing. The course provides information on two of the most common psychotic disorders; schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (manic depression), providing information on symptoms and signs of the disorder so the MHFA’s can be proactive in identifying these within others in the workplace. Spanning across all the sections of the course, there is additional information including the benefits of Cognitive  Behavioural Therapy (CBT), guides on self-harm and alcohol/substance abuse, non-judgemental listening techniques, crisis first aid for the mental health issues and action planning for using MHFA through wellness recovery action planning.