Course aims – by the end of this training delegates will have:-
- increased awareness about how mental distress can impact on a person’s communication and behaviour
- more confidence in building rapport with service users while maintaining personal and organisational boundaries
- greater insight into the challenges involved in supporting customers experiencing mental distress, and a clearer sense of the impact this has on them
- more knowledge and resources to help look after their own mental well-being
Course outline
- what we mean by mental health and distress
- the range of mental health problems and the support and treatment available
- types of communication that may be symptomatic of mental distress
- how workers can proceed if they are concerned about a customer’s mental health
- an introduction to the principles of mental health first aid
- recognising and responding effectively to expressions of anxiety
- helpful responses when people are expressing strong feelings like anger or fear
- guidelines for engaging when someone is expressing paranoid or very unusual thoughts
- techniques to supportively end a meeting or phone call
- reflecting on personal stress – triggers, how it manifests and coping strategies
- recognising the impact of prolonged contact with the general public and proactively looking after your own mental well-being
Mental health at work training 