What do you learn in mental health first aid?
Posted on 15th February 2022
Mental health is important, but it’s not easy to get by without it. If you’re feeling down, lack self-confidence, or just need some support; you need to seek out professional help. However, not everyone is capable of getting the help they need. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the different types of mental health support services and find one that best fits your needs.
This guide will cover the basics of mental health first aid training. We’ll also provide a list of resources to help you get started if you need to talk to someone about your mental health.
What is mental health?
Mental health is the state of mind or the emotional state of being. It can refer to mental illness, such as depression or anxiety, or to general well-being, such as happiness and stress relief. Mental health is important for everyone, especially for those who are struggling with issues like anxiety and depression.
Mental Health FIrst Aid
First aid is usually the help a person will receive when they first experience an accident or injury, and it is the same for one’s mental health. It equips people with skills that will help them quickly identify signs of deteriorating mental health and respond appropriately to them. Mental health first aid training will teach a person to assess a patient’s risk of self-harm or suicide, whilst listening to their grievances and not judging them. A person may also give reassurance and support to the patient and show them where they can seek out long-term professional help.
Mental health first aid training aims to help a person in that moment of crisis and then show them ways of keeping good mental health in the future. This training enables people to understand those who experience mental health issues so they can support them and help them with other situations such as substance abuse, a panic attack, depression, etc.
Anyone can be a mental health first aider once trained. Whether you’re a concerned neighbour or family member, a teacher, staff member, business owner, etc., you qualify to take this training. Having a desire to make a difference and promote mental health awareness is enough basis for enrolling in the mental health first aid training.
There a several benefits to promoting positive mental health such as :
Improving productivity at work and in school
Boosting your quality of life and self-esteem
Reducing the rate of suicides
Helping you to manage stressful situations better
Enhancing interpersonal relationships
Lowering crime rates
Reducing the stigma around mental health issues
How do I find a mental health support service?
The first step is to find a mental health support service that meets your needs. This can be difficult, but it’s important to find a service that is reputable and has been certified by the National Mental Health Association. Once you’ve found a service, it’s important to ask about their services. They’ll likely be more than happy to offer you help.
What should I do if I need help?
If you need help, you should first get in touch with a mental health professional. They’ll help you figure out what’s going on and how to get the help you need. If you don’t have someone to talk to, plenty of resources are available online.
Here at The Leicestershire Training Team we provide mental health first aid training to organisations that seek to prioritise their staffs mental health and wellbeing. This can be custom made to suit your company culture and employee needs, to achieve your goals concerning mental health. If you’re an organisation in or around Leicestershire in need of mental health first aid training, contact us today.
Share this post: