The Importance of Mental Health First Aid Training

Today’s blog talks about mental health first aid training and its importance in all workplaces.

Mental health, just like physical health, affects all of us. Some people struggle with mental health difficulties every once in a while while others struggle every single day.

As employers, it’s crucial to prioritise mental health. Staying informed and skilled in this area enables us to handle various workplace situations effectively, ensuring everyone’s safety and wellbeing. Participating in mental health first aid training is the best way to prepare for such situations. 

This blog will explore the available training options and their benefits, emphasising the importance of mental health first aid as an invaluable tool for employers.

Supporting employees’ mental health is an essential act of inclusion and accessibility, which we should all embrace now and in the future.

What Is Mental Health First Aid Training?

Several different organisations offer variations of mental health first aid training across the UK. The main options we’ll be discussing in this blog come from Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA), Aware NI, and Grassroots Suicide Prevention. 

These organisations provide training to raise awareness of mental health issues, equip individuals to handle crises, and develop listening and communication skills related to mental health.

First, we’ll discuss MHFA and their courses. Their main offerings include: 

Mental Health First Aid

MHFA’s main course is practical, focusing on helping people handle those in crisis or distress. It teaches how to recognise signs of distress in others.

This course is highly beneficial for employers, providing essential tools to manage real-life situations that are more common than expected. Being prepared for crises before they occur is crucial.

Mental Health Knowledge for Managers

The mental health course for managers is designed for larger companies with multiple managers. It aims to enhance understanding of workplace mental health issues, promoting a safer and more accessible environment. The course also improves communication between managers and employees.

This course is a valuable resource for managers and is highly recommended for large companies.

Return to Work and Mental Health

MHFA’s return to work course assists HR staff in managing employees returning after an absence, a critical period for maintaining health and safety.

Any organisation can benefit from this course, as safe returns to work improve the office environment for everyone.

Mental Health Aware

The Mental Health Aware course is an excellent introductory course for those wanting to learn about mental health, both for themselves and others. Understanding mental health is crucial, and we recommend everyone explore this topic. You may discover insights that change how you think and interact with others.

MHFA Refresher

Keeping skills sharp and information current is essential. The MHFA Refresher course helps maintain and update your knowledge. As mental health is a lifelong concern, continuous learning is necessary.

Mental Health First Aid England offers a variety of training options for employers, both online and in-person, ensuring accessibility for all. Visit their website to find the right course for you.

Next, we have Aware NI and their mental health first aid training for companies and employers in Northern Ireland.

Mental Health First Aid (Aware NI)

This course aims to preserve life, prevent crises, promote recovery, and provide comfort to those struggling. It focuses on handling mental health crises, offering skills to safely de-escalate situations and provide early intervention.

Aware NI is a remarkable charity working to reduce mental health stigma, increase awareness, and raise funds to support those in need across Northern Ireland. Their training courses are a powerful resource, with the First Aid course being particularly beneficial for employers and others, making a significant impact on many lives.

The final option is from Grassroots Suicide Prevention, focusing on their ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training).

ASIST

This comprehensive 2-day course aims to help attendees:

• Be suicide alert
• Understand the reasons behind thoughts of suicide
• Assess risk and safety
• Develop safety plans
• Recognise invitations for help
• Understand barriers to help
• Offer support
• Apply a suicide intervention model, and
• Signpost 

Suicide is often a difficult topic to discuss, and ASIST addresses this by helping us understand and manage the cultural impact of suicide.

Employers who undertake this training can save lives, making it one of the most valuable training options available.

Why This Matters

We are continuously learning more about mental health, and one key lesson is that it requires a collective effort. Supporting each other means staying connected and attentive to identify and address problems effectively.

Every colleague’s life is valuable and worth saving. Therefore, any training course that contributes to this should be pursued.

Understanding mental health issues and disabilities is a highly worthwhile endeavour for any employer. At Careers with Disabilities, we’re here to assist you.

Our services include:

• Advice and support – Our website is packed with resources for employers, including guides on local assistance and the benefits of employing job seekers with disabilities. Find the latest industry insights on our blog. 
• Attract top talent – Get in touch to advertise your roles on our dedicated disability-friendly jobs board.
• Find diverse talent – Our job advert inclusivity screening tests your ad against our “Inclusive Language Checklist” to remove potentially discriminatory language.
• Advertise your business – Our talented team of writers works with you to create a company profile that documents your efforts as a leading inclusive employer.

Join our network and reach a pool of 10,000+ diverse applicants and top talent.

Have a question? Email us at info@careerswithdisabilities.com or give us a call on 0345 872 4501.