Mental Health First Aid Adult

Approved by the Public Health Agency  

Research by the Mental Health Foundation 2015 found 92% of us would stop and help someone injured in a road traffic accident, but only 51% would offer to help someone crying in public. The survey also found that a quarter of people would not know what to do or say if someone close to them at home or work had worries about their mental health.   

This 2-day specialist course has been devised to increase participants’ knowledge and confidence to provide first aid and support for people experiencing mental health problems at home and at work.  Recognised and approved by the Public Health Agency, the training educates and delivers the message that mental health problems are everybody’s business, affecting neighbours, friends, colleagues, relatives and ourselves.   

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is intended for various audiences. It is relevant to management and staff of all levels and disciplines and is particularly relevant for the following:

• Human Resource Professionals 
• Health & Safety Personnel
• Primary Healthcare Staff 
• Police and Prison Staff
• School and College Personnel, Community Groups, Religious Groups
• Any individual wishing to increase their knowledge of mental illness, including family members   

The training aims to assist individuals in helping:  

• Preserve life where a person may be a danger to themselves or others
• Provide help to prevent the mental health problems from developing into a more severe state
• Promote recovery of good mental health
• Provide comfort to a person experiencing mental ill health
• Raise awareness of mental health issues in the community
• Reduce stigma and discrimination

Many of those who have taken part in our MHFA programmes have benefited from positive changes in their knowledge, attitude and behaviour, resulting in greater confidence in providing help to others and decreased social distance from people with mental health problems.

Our evaluation supports research that shows that MHFA training increases knowledge and confidence around mental health issues, decreases stigmatising attitudes and, most importantly, that trainees put their training to good effect by offering first-aid to people suffering from mental distress in workplaces, at home and in the community.   

Session 1  

• Why mental health first aid? Mental health revelation and policy.  
• Common mental health problems. Attitude, beliefs and stigma.
• The five steps of mental health first aid.  

Session 2  

• Crisis first aid for suicidal behaviour.  
• Self-harm awareness. Symptoms of depression.
• Awareness of Bi-Polar disorder. Treatment and resources for depression.   

Session 3  

• What are anxiety disorders (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), social phobia,   
• panic disorder, agoraphobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)?  
• Symptoms of anxiety disorders. Crisis first aid for panic attacks.  
• Treatment and resources for anxiety disorders.  
• Introduction to psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) and risk factors.  

Session 4  

• Introduction to substance use disorders (alcohol, drugs) and risk factors.  
• Treatment and resources for substance use disorders.  
• Other factors that impact mental health. Treatment and resources.  

Various formats are used: verbal presentation supported by PowerPoint slides, audio recordings, group tasks, feedback and video presentation.