Investing in Mental Health First Aid
In anticipation of this month’s World Mental Health Day, which is marked on October 10th each year, several members of the Quorum Park community recently completed a certified course approved by Public Health England to help them find the confidence to step in and support people experiencing mental health issues.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), a two-day course from Mental Health First Aid England, is taught in small groups of between 8 and 16 participants to ensure there is ample time for discussion to aid participants’ understanding of a range of issues connected to mental health, including stress, depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis, substance misuse, self-harm, suicide and eating disorders.
Delivered by nationally-accredited MHFA instructor Clare Blunt from Venture Zero, a North East based company that provides training relating to sustainable wellbeing and supports clients with their corporate social responsibility, the interactive days on September 11th and 12th were described by those in attendance as “informative”, “interesting” and “insightful”.
Clare, who has worked in mental health for more than 25 years and supports businesses to better understand the needs of their people by developing a culture in which everyone feels comfortable to bring their whole selves to work, said of the course:
“The training is highly interactive and there is a lot to take in, which is why it takes place over two full days, ideally delivered consecutively, although it can also be delivered over 4 smaller sessions online. Regardless of your job role or position, it gives attendees the tools to better manage their own wellbeing, whether at home or at work, the knowledge to spot signs of poor mental health, and crucially, the confidence to reach out to help prevent a mental health crisis, or to respond appropriately should they witness one.”
Participants gave Clare’s delivery a 96 per cent score and all of them said they would recommend the course, which took place in the Q11 meeting room with lunch and refreshments provided for all. They also ranked their confidence as improved by an average 30 per cent across the group by the end of training, and their knowledge by 26 per cent.
One learner said: “Despite there being a lot of content to get through in two days, the pace was a perfect balance, allowing time to discuss and reflect. The trainer was very knowledgeable, and the heavy stuff was handles with due diligence, preventing any offence to those who could relate.”
Another said: “The course was great. Very informative. What is normally a very taboo subject was made very easy to take in and understand much better.”
Last but not least, someone also added: “It was a very insightful course with resourceful information about supporting people with mental health concerns and questions. Clare’s detailed and interactive approach has really given me more confidence in having the conversation around mental health and giving support. I will be sharing the course information with others as I think it is an essential tool to have in the workplace.”
Now certified to provide Mental Health First Aid, should it become necessary, for a period of three years, each attendee received a hard copy coursework book to take away from the sessions, and now has access to resources, ongoing learning and 24/7 digital support through the official MHFAider Support App®. For anyone wishing to remain certified, there are also top up courses available to keep their learning fresh and a recommended half day refresher course at the 3-year mark.
Find out more about Mental Health First Aid at https://www.venturezero.co.uk/mental-health-first-aid, and for more news about training and events from across the park, visit quorumpark.com/news-and-events or follow us on Facebook.
