Mental health first aid courses are created with the purpose to improve knowledge, reduce stigma and increase what first aid is available to those suffering from poor mental health. They teach people the signs of someone having a crisis and the skills to respond to these moments when they arise.
Why take a mental health first aid course?
At the end of August 2024, 1.94 million people were in contact with mental health services, 1.34 million of these were in touch with the adult mental health services according to the NHS. This means that it is incredibly likely you will know someone suffering from ill mental health at the moment. However, these figures are only the people who have sought help.
By taking a mental health first aid course, you will be learning how to support people who are struggling with their mental health by pointing them in the right direction and providing them with a safe place to discuss their thoughts and feelings. You will also learn to recognise some of the signs and symptoms so will be better placed to offer your help when it’s needed.
For more information on why mental health training, particularly at work, is important you can read Why You Should Invest in Mental Health First Aid Training at Work.
What skills will I learn on a mental health first aid course?
You will learn many skills on a mental health first aid course that will teach you to identify and help someone who is suffering. These include:
1. How to assess a situation
You will learn how to assess a situation as it is arising. So, when talking to someone about a problem they are having or how they are feeling, you will be able to assess whether they are an imminent threat to themselves or others and how best to proceed.
2. How to act in a crisis
If someone is having a mental health crisis, after taking a first aid course on the subject, you will be able to know how best to proceed to calm them down, keep both of you safe and work towards a solution by getting them the help that they need.
3. How to listen and encourage someone
It may seem obvious but knowing how to listen to someone when they are going through something is one of the best skills to have. You need to know how to get them to open up to you and encourage them to continue talking while expressing empathy and showing that you are engaged.
4. How to give support
You will learn how best to support the person that you are talking to, by guiding them to various resources, providing someone who will listen to them without judgement and checking up on them to see how they are doing after the fact.
What else will I learn?
As well as learning the skills that will enable you to help others when they have poor mental health, you will also learn:
What the signs and symptoms are
How do you know when someone is struggling? When should you step in? How do you tell if someone is close to having a crisis? On a mental health first aid course, you will learn the signs and symptoms for various mental health issues, so that you know when to step in.
More information on mental health
You will also be learning about various conditions; depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance abuse for example, and what they are. The length of your course will determine how in-depth you go.
What can cause someone to go from good mental health to poor mental health
In these courses you will also learn more information on what it means to have poor mental health as well as good mental health. As well as issues that can affect someone, causing them to begin struggling, such as workplace stress.
Our mental health training courses
Read our other blogs for more information on first aid or contact us for further advice and information on our courses.