No mental health training is ever the same which means that selecting the wrong training course can cost valuable time and resources which will not have been used to no good effect.
Summary
Mental health training courses can differ from one another. You should start by checking that the qualification is accredited to a recognised standard, such as those set by the Royal Society for Public Health. It is also important to consider whether the scenarios covered on the course match your workforce, whether the format and delivery style of the course suits your teams, and the relevant qualifications and lived experience of the trainers on the course. It is also worth asking what support is offered after the course, and trying to find a course that runs with groups of fewer than 16 people to allow delegates to put what they have learned into practice and to ask questions.
Check Accreditation First
First look for us is to check for accreditation of the mental health training qualification being offered by recognised accreditation standards for example the Royal Society for Public Health have set out some recognised accreditation standards for mental health qualifications, this gives you a clear benchmark for what a good quality mental health training program looks like and will mean that what your staff learn will carry real weight with them.
Match the Course to Your Workforce
A course aimed at office workers may not be unsuitable for a shift working team, or teams working on the frontline. Ask the training provider whether the course scenarios and examples have been derived from examples from within your sector, and that they will be relevant to your workforce.
Consider Format and Delivery Options
Also, think about the format and the options of delivery the provider offers. Some training programs will be delivered entirely online as a series of modules, but others will be delivered as a series of sessions, with some of those being online and others being face-to-face. It’s also worth thinking about whether online delivery would work for you, For Mental Health Training Courses Newport, visit www.tidaltraining.co.uk/mental-health-training-courses/newport/.
Ask About Trainer Credentials
It is also important to check that the trainers have the relevant qualifications as well as where possible some personal experience of living with mental health problems. This will mean that they are able to have more honest conversations about mental health and provide guidance that has been grounded.
Find Out What Happens Afterwards
Good training does not have to stop at the end of the training day. Therefore ask the provider for details of any follow up given to participants after the end of the training such as extra resources, refresher training sessions or a contact for any questions or concerns raised by participants when back in their workplace.
Check Group Size
Smaller group sizes of less than 16 participants ensure that participants who have the employees are given the chance to ask questions and to practice the skills that have been learned during the mental health training course. The employees will be able to have honest conversations about mental health in the workplace and return to work with increased confidence.
FAQs
How long does a mental health training course usually take?
There are different levels of training and these can be delivered over a short period of time (even half a day) as an ‘awareness session’ or as a more in-depth course over two days or several shorter online sessions to help participants to support their colleagues. The total learning time for a course should be communicated by the provider in addition to the number of sessions.
Is mental health training a legal requirement for employers?
Whilst there is no specific legal requirement to provide mental health first aider training within your workplace, as an employer you are required to assess the health risks to your workers, including work-related stress, and training can be one way of meeting that duty.
How many members of staff should we train?
There is no fixed number of staff members that need to be trained. You need to calculate the number of staff members needed, based on the size of your workforce, how many sites you have and your shift patterns, to ensure that there is someone available who has been trained on every shift (and at all locations).
Do people need refresher training?
The skills you learn, and your confidence in using them, can fade over time if you are not using them. So, it’s worth asking your provider how frequently they recommend a refresher. More on health and the workplace in our piece on the trial to scrap fit notes to get people back to work.