The 2-Day Public Health Scotland Mental Health First Aid course will equip the candidates with the skills and knowledge they need to be able to confidently:
A candidate will also have a deeper knowledge of:
It is important to remember that Mental Health First Aiders are not therapists or counsellors, but they can provide valuable non-judgemental support, help and comfort until other suitable/professional help can be found.
Course Content: The course is a 12-hour course run over 2 days. Delegates will develop skills in asking appropriate questions, listening without judgment and giving guidance about where help can be found. The NHS/Public Health Scotland Mental Health First Aid course is the only one that is recognised and supported by the Scottish Government and is ideal for those who are looking to increase their awareness and understanding around mental health and build their confidence to offer valuable first aid to people suffering from mental distress.
Completion: On completion of the 2-Day course the delegate will receive a nationally recognised NHS /Public Health Scotland Mental Health First Aid certificate. Delegates will also receive a copy of Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid manual.
This 3-hour interactive, course is divided into various modules. The course provides an overview of mental health problems, outlining some of the symptoms, effects, and stigma. The aim of the course is to give you skills, tools and resources that will enable you to support someone that is going through a difficult time and by developing strong listening skills, you will be more able to have a difficult conversation, recognise verbal and non-verbal cues and spot early warning signs of someone struggling to cope. By taking a pro-active approach you will then prevent a person’s mental health worsening.
What will it cover?
Part 1
Part 2
What are the outcomes?
Delegates will receive:
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) was first developed in Australia by Betty Kitchener and her husband Professor Anthony Jorm. Betty and Tony were walking their dog one day when they realised that there was no mental health equivalent of physical first aid. This idea led to an internationally recognised programme of simple steps that can be used to help a person in distress. Founded in 2001, the programme has spread from Australia to over 20 countries.
In 2003 Betty Kitchener brought the course to Scotland and trained a number of instructors who then piloted the course throughout Scotland. Such was the enthusiastic response to the Australian course that the formerly named Scottish Executive funded the development of a Scottish course based on MHFA principles.
Sometimes people are not sure what mental health is and feel a bit afraid of it. Think about physical health. That doesn’t have the same negative impact does it? Our physical health can be good or poor and it can vary from day to day. When our physical health is good we can enjoy life to the full.
At other times we can be unwell and this can last for weeks or months. Or we might be unwell just for a couple of days then we are back to normal. Sometimes our physical health is poor because we haven’t taken good care of ourselves or because we were born with a tendency to certain illnesses. When we are unwell we are likely to have less energy and motivation and find taking part in work or play more difficult.
All of these things are true of mental health. The main difference between physical and mental health is that our emotions, our ability to work and our relationships are the main things to be influenced by our mental health.
When our mental health is positive we can cope with ups and downs. Our mood is stable and we feel optimistic. When we are mentally unwell we may experience mental or emotional pain. Our mood may be low and we might lose confidence in our ability to cope with life´s challenges. Sometimes we can have long term mental health problems, just as we can get longer lasting physical illnesses… and we can recover in much the same way.
Of course the other big difference is that you can´t get a mental health problem from someone else – it isn´t catching like the flu. Physical and mental health have an effect on each other. If your physical health is poor your mental health is likely to be low. If your mental health is poor you are more likely to get physically ill.
The course offers basic general information about mental health problems. The knowledge presented and understanding developed in the course helps to remove stigma and fear and to give confidence in approaching a person in distress.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an initial response to distress and all participants on the course understand that this help is given only until other suitable professional help can be found.
You too can learn how to:
Recovery means different things to different people. It is a very personal experience. It may not mean an absence of symptoms but it does mean living a fulfilled life in which the person has control over their own wellbeing and recovery.
Here are some important thoughts and ideas about recovery:
The Scottish Recovery Network aims to engage communities across Scotland in debate on how best to promote and support recovery from long-term mental health problems.
Mental Health Strategy for Scotland 2017 to 2027
The Scottish Government’s mental health strategy is a 10-year vision for 2017-27. It sets out a range of key commitments, with a summary of actions covering 4 areas:
In 2004 Scottish materials were developed and the National Training Team was commissioned to begin training instructors from all over Scotland.
In 2009, after a very successful independent evaluation, the process of updating the original materials begun. The new materials were launched and all current instructors now deliver the new materials
Mental health is … ´the emotional and spiritual resilience which allows us to enjoy life and survive pain, disappointment and sadness. It is a positive sense of well-being and an underlying belief in our own, and others, dignity and worth.´ (Health Education Authority 1997)
When a person has a mental health problem what they need most is someone who can:
This course is for everyone and participants use the skills they learn in all settings.
How to apply the 5 steps of the 2 day SMHFA
The course takes 12 hours and is often run on two separate days. It is an interesting course that includes different activities, films, discussions and even some fun and laughter. You will get a certificate of attendance and a colourful and interesting manual to take away with you at the end so that you can remind yourself of what you’ve learned.
The aims of SMHFA are:
I am an accredited Mental Health First Aid Trainer for Adult and Young Person. I also have extensive experience delivering bespoke training across Scotland in mental health, NHS/Public Health Scotland – Healthy Working Lives, SCQF Mental Health First Aid Level 4, 5 & 6 and challenging behavioural courses that support people working with children and young adults who have Additional Support Needs.
I am passionate about being pro-active and making change for the better and recently qualified as a Scottish Government Quality Improvement leader. When I’m not delivering Mental Health training, I volunteer my time as a Learning & Development Co-ordinator for the Children’s Hearing Panel and other third sector organisations.
