Mental health training courses

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Identifying mental health concerns is hard due to the lack of physical signs. Someone who has received training around mental health might feel more confident and capable in spotting signs of poor mental wellbeing and more importantly, have the confidence to start a conversation. Early intervention is essential when it comes to supporting an individual who is struggling with their mental health. Mental health training courses provide an opportunity to identify, recognise, and be able to support someone who is suffering. Investing in employee wellbeing and staff training shows a positive impact on the trained employees' mental health enabling them to take control of not only others but their own mental health and feel prepared and confident with appropriate tools and resources to support each other in the workplace.

Training areas

There are three training to assist you in choosing and identifying the right mental health training for you, your teams and/or communities, these are Universal, Targeted and Crisis training courses.

Universal training

Training for anyone who wants to learn more about mental health

Social isolation awareness

A brief introduction to social isolation. In 5 to 10 minutes, you will learn how social isolation affects our mental health and how to step up and help someone who feels isolated.

First aid for mental health

This 2 hour awareness session is to support individuals who may want or need to support people with their mental health. This is an opportunity to find out more about a subject you may have heard about, may have experienced yourself in some way, or you want to know more about.

Mental health for you and others

To learn about Mental Health, coping mechanisms, challenges and how to recognise mental health conditions in other people.

Training is available to any organisation, company, business or community group who would like to host this training. A minimum of 10 people would be required, with a room, refreshments and equipment provided by the host. Contact wellness service.

  • Training provider: Wellness Service, Kirklees Council
  • Cost: Free
  • Duration: up to 3 hours
  • A minimum of 10 people required
  • Room, refreshments and equipment to be provided by the host.
  • Website Contact Kirklees Wellness Service

Suicide prevention overview training

How to spot suicide warning signs, how to have a conversation with someone you're worried about and where to signpost to for further support Suicide is preventable.

Various wellbeing courses

Various different courses which learners can enrol onto to manage their own wellbeing or to learn how to help others' wellbeing. Courses are open to all adults and carers, but learners need to enrol to be able to access courses.

Supporting the mental health of asylum seekers and refugees

Two free self-guided e-courses which focus on the factors which affect the mental health and wellbeing of those who have been displaced from their country of origin - one for helpers and one for mental health practitioners.

Each course includes 10-30 minute videos with summaries, references, and reflection points. A suggested pace is one module per week for six weeks.

You'll gain an insight into global displacement, asylum-seeking in the UK, and related metal health challenges, along with ways to provide support, from compassionate actions to clinical care.

Targeted training

For those working with specific groups who may be more at risk of poor mental health.

Mental health first aid training for schools

Training available to schools who are part of Mental Health support Team. Training is delivered by 2 accredited trainers.

  • Training provider: Educational Psychology Team offer
  • Cost: Free (Eligible schools must be part of the Mental Health Support Team)
  • Duration: 2 days
  • Contact: Jane Whitton Email

First aid for mental health - level 2

This is a 1 day course if you are interested in becoming the First Aider for Mental Health within your workplace. This course will give you the knowledge and understanding to implement and support what the business has put in place to support you and your colleagues.

Supervising first aid for mental health - level 3

This is a 2 day course for you if you are a Manager, Owner or Supervisor in a business and you are wanting to also become the First Aider for Mental Health within your workplace.

An introduction to postvention and suicide bereavement

Provides professionals with the basic skills to support someone who has been bereaved by suicide.

Want to know more sessions - more information about the suicide bereavement service

Aimed at professionals who potentially would be referring into the suicide bereavement service. The course aims to provide more information about the service.

Loneliness and social isolation e-learning course

This e-learning course is focussed on highlighting the impact of chronic loneliness as a serious health concern and how we can all help to tackle loneliness with the interactions we have with patients and the public. It supports the call to action from the Jo Cox Commission to 'equip people with information about the potential triggers for loneliness and ensure they know where to go for support'.

The course highlights how health and social care staff and the wider public health workforce can recognise risk factors, risk groups and apply simple interventions that will that can make a positive impact

Real talk about suicide

Real Talk About Suicide is an interactive film which helps guide the viewer, as they make choices to support someone with suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

Crisis training

For those coming into contact with suicidal people

Suicide awareness training

How to spot suicide warning signs, how to have a conversation with someone you're worried about and where to signpost to for further support. Suicide is preventable.

ASIST - suicide first aid interventions

ASIST is a skills building workshop that prepares caregivers to provide suicide first aid interventions, to consider personal and societal attitudes to suicide and to learn the most widely used suicide prevention model in the world To recognise, and act on, the signs that someone is having thoughts of suicide. It is to seek a shared understanding of the reasons for thoughts of suicide and identify reasons for living and to review current risk and develop a joint plan to keep someone safe from suicide, signposting for further help and community resources as needed.

  • Training provider: Papyrus
  • Cost: £180pp
  • Duration: 2 days
  • Face to face only. Places are limited and dependent on job role.
  • Book an ASIST session

Management of self-harm in the emergency department (MaSH)

This online learning resource has been developed by researchers at the Manchester Self-Harm (MaSH) Project, which is part of the Centre for Suicide Prevention, a leading UK centre for research into suicidal behaviour based at The University of Manchester.

This resource has been designed to help you understand more about why people self-harm and how to help people who present to hospital emergency departments after self-harm.

CALM C.A.R.E kit

The C.A.R.E kit is made up of three training modules to help you support young people, from introducing the topic of mental health through to what to do in a crisis.

Each module contains four vital actions that can help prevent suicide: Check-in, Ask, Remain close and Expert help.

Use the C.A.R.E kit to learn vital suicide prevention skills. Its full of practical advice from suicide prevention experts.

In this 9-minute film, volunteers with lived experience of being impacted by suicide speak directly to staff in health and care organisations about their experiences, to share good practice. This is part of a co-production project funded by the West Yorkshire Suicide Prevention Programme and delivered by Leeds Mind.

Suicide Prevention Champions

A Suicide Prevention Champion is someone who learns about suicide prevention and helps friends, relatives, colleagues, or strangers in the community. They know the signs to look out for and are able to have a conversation about suicide, which is a skill we can all develop. For more information or to sign up to be a Suicide Prevention Champion visit Become a Suicide Prevention Champion - what's involved?

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