Mental Health Awareness Week

This month we celebrate again Mental Health Awareness Week (9-15 May) – this is an awareness event that we at BookMyCourse find extremely significant, as we believe that good mental health, regardless of whether that be at work or home, is key to living a happy and fulfilled life.

There are many ways to foster a positive approach to mental health, from encouraging a positive mindset, encouraging the same in others, training to recognise different mental health behaviours and lifestyle changes. Here at BMC, we actively encourage open communications, mental health advocacy and training to ensure a good attitude within our workforce, and the courses we have available also focus on these topics, as well as other related mental health awareness training options including recognising different types of mental illnesses, mental health at home and in the workplace, positive thinking and how to communicate effectively.

Mental health has been recognised as a key factor in wellbeing, productivity and morale; a study by the Centre for Mental Health in 2020 highlighted also the added stress that dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic had had on people in general. It was estimated in Oct-20 that 8.5 million adults and 1.5 million children would need mental health support following the initial stages of lockdowns and restrictions; in actuality, The British Medical Journal have estimated that in 2022, around 10% of the population have experienced ongoing mental distress following on from the pandemic, but medical professionals are aware that this number is most likely much higher, as many do not come forward to seek help for their mental health and so slip under the radar.

Mental Health First Aid Training

Courses specific to the mental health area of first aid and health were developed originally in Australia and it wasn’t until 2007 that Mental Health First Aid England was launched by the Department of Health in this country. This is the accrediting body for first aid courses that relate to mental health. In 2019, a parliamentary debate decided that First Aid regulations needed to be brought up to date, to ensure that mental health is treated at the same level as physical health in the workplace; there may be further changes in the law surrounding mental health at work and the staff structure in place to ensure that mental health is treated as equal.

There are a number of first aid courses specific to mental health that focus on different aspects, from raising awareness of what the term “mental health” means to actually recognising different mental health problems and working with individuals to provide support and ongoing care. Stress, mindfulness and wellbeing are also important aspects of mental health and courses are available to train people in these specific areas.

Course Options for the Workplace

Whilst fostering good mental health in all areas of life is extremely important, it plays an important role in the workplace in terms of impacting employee happiness and wellbeing. An individual who feels supported and cared for, even if their mental health problems are ongoing, is more likely to feel happier in their role and within their workplace.

There are different mental health course options for different needs; these include:

• Mental Health Awareness - Designed to teach candidates to understand what “mental health” is and the legal responsibilities surrounding it in the workplace, as well as the most common mental health problems and how to support different people in different ways
• Mental Health in the Workplace - providing learners with the knowledge to recognise a range of mental health conditions, how to start a supportive conversation and when and how to signpost a person to seek appropriate professional help.
• Resilience Management – Promoting resilience at work by improving communication within the workplace so issues can be addresses
• Mental Health Champion Training - Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Champions are able to provide support to both management and co-workers at all levels of the workforce
• Mental Health First Aid - Enabling candidates to be able to recognise the signs of mental ill health and to give them the practical skills needed to support somebody experiencing mental health issues
• Supervising First Aid for Mental Health – Providing advice and practical support for a person with a suspected mental health condition, as well as training in First Aid for specific mental health conditions
• Stress Buster – Understanding the impact of stress on our bodies and minds, as well as common triggers, signs, symptoms and recommended treatments
• Supporting Young People – Helping people to understand the strains that students and young people may be under and the impact this could have on their mental health and wellbeing
• Mindfulness and Wellbeing Workshops - Covers how to look at the aspects of work and home that take away spare time and enjoyment from your day to day life and how to gain the tools to improve your life/work balance.
• Wellbeing at Work - a practical introduction to improving personal wellbeing, helping to be better prepared to cope with changes and overcome setbacks

Resources

• https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/news/10-million-people-england-may-need-support-their-mental-health-result-pandemic-says-centre-mental-health
• https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o326
• https://www.bookmycourse.co.uk/courses/first_aid_mental_health_476/