Mental Health Training

Mental Health Training in the Workplace 

If you suffer a cut or a burn in the workplace, your first reaction will be to call on the office first aider to help you out. So, when your mental health is suffering, who can you call out to for help? Particularly when it’s so vital to care and look after your mental health. 

Having a mental health first aider (MHFA) in your workplace give employees a person that they can go and confide in if things are feeling too much for them. Your MHFA will then seek to help and put that employee in touch with the appropriate authorities who will be able to help them. 

A MHFA will also be trained to look for mental health symptoms in other colleagues that could indicate that they are suffering from some problems and might need some help. This person will be non-judgemental and will keep everything completely confidential. Which will make it easier for employees to contact the MHFA in their workplace. 

What Are the Benefits of Having a MHFA in the Workplace? 

Mental Health Training in the Workplace - Keep Safe Solutions

While mental health well-being wasn’t well understood in the past, these days we know that our employee’s mental health is just as important as their physical health. In fact, if left untreated, mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression can lead to long-term absences in your work force.

So, by hosting mental health training and having at least one MHFA in your workplace, it means that your employees know that you are offering them a safe place to confide and perhaps even seek help if they’re not comfortable speaking to family for friends. Plus, by having a workplace that openly looks after the mental health well-being of staff, your staff turnover may improve. 

Are Mental Health First Aiders Mandatory? 

Are Mental Health First Aiders Mandatory? - Keep Safe Solutions

At the moment, unlike a regular first aider, there is no legal requirement for an employer to conduct mental health training or appoint a MHFA. Instead, it is really up to that business to decide whether or not to provide training. 

This could easily change in the near future, though, which makes it a very sensible choice for workplaces to start training now. Plus, more than that, a workplace that understands mental health makes for a very desirable place to work, meaning people are more likely to apply for jobs with you as well as staying loyal to your company. 

Common Signs of Underlying Mental Health Problems 

As part of their training, yourself and employees will be able to spot some of the common signs of problems in your workforce. These can include: 

1: Changes in Character 

Staying in such close proximity to those we work with on a regular basis, it makes sense that you come to know that person very well. Which will allow you to spot any changes in characters that could point to towards that person suffering in silence. 

Common signs could be that person being irritable or acting particularly anxious, yet it’s important to note that changing personality to be overly-joking or laughing all the time could also be a sign. As here the person could be hiding depression or stress by acting the opposite. 

2: Isolating Themselves from Others 

Generally, a workplace will like to organise social events such as Christmas parties or even just a few drinks after work. Even a few of you enjoying lunch together and chatting or having a quick cup of tea and a biscuit in the afternoon are all normal aspects of being social at work.

So, if someone suddenly starts avoiding these and spending long periods of time alone, it could be a sign of something underlying going on. 

3: Changes in Sleeping Patterns 

Often, in the morning, employees will chat about their evening beforehand and how they slept. Meaning we can actually have quite an in-depth knowledge of each other’s sleeping patterns. If someone is sleeping less or more than usual, it could be cause for concern. 

4: Eating Differently 

Like knowing each other’s sleeping patterns, your colleagues will likely know about your eating habits. Especially when so many of us are always on – and breaking! – our diets. If someone who doesn’t eat a lot, starts snacking endlessly or perhaps someone seems to have lost their appetite altogether, it could well be a sign of a mental health concern. 

5: Changes in Work Quality 

As managers or supervisors, you will know the quality of the work those under you usually provide. Which means, if this quality takes a dive, you will be the first to notice. This could be a one-off, however, repeated dips in work quality is also a sign of an employee being distracted because of stress or similar. 

Other colleagues may also be able to spot mental health changes if someone is acting strange or confused, making mistakes unlike them due to concentration. In which case you might wish to consider notifying a manager about your worries. 

6: Looking or Acting Sad 

While people can be extremely good at hiding any mental health symptoms from others, this is an exhausting thing to do and that person won’t be able to keep this façade up all the time. So, when someone is working and they think no one is watching, you can usually see if they are looking sad or particularly low. 

These mental health symptoms and your employees knowing about them, makes it easier for vulnerable staff to be approached and helped. Which could potentially safe a life. As well as training in this way, signposting appropriate bodies and a confidential way for people to contact someone about their own health, can really help inspire employees to seek help. 

How to Appoint a MHFA and Conduct Mental Health Training in the Workplace Mental Health Training in the Workplace - KSS

Mental health training courses through a professional company is something that you should consider for all of your employees. After this general training, you will them be able to look for any volunteers who may wish to take their training further to become a mental health first aider. 

If this is something you would like to implement in your business, contact us here at Keep Safe Solutions and we will talk you through our mental health course and how it could benefit your team.

What People Say

Conducted the IOSH course March 2020, fantastic course, great location and ran by quality staff. Look no further A+++++
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chris leech
12:18 26 Apr 20
Great course! Terry was fantastic and lead us through the IOSH course successfully and in a fun and interesting way! Thanks KSS!!
Rebecca Hetherington
Rebecca Hetherington
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Brilliant course with clear and concise tuition. Danny was great and kept the pace well throughout.Would recommend.
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Matthew Pickering
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Patryck McQuinn
Patryck McQuinn
13:28 27 Jun 19
Fantastic course and a excellent instructor would highly recommend!
Georgina Arnold
Georgina Arnold
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Danny was an excellent instructor for the iosh managing safely course.If I was to do further training I would definitely use keep safe solutions.Mark James NichollsBay property Group
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Mark Nicholls
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James Bickerton
09:09 29 Mar 19
I have just attended IOSH Managing Safely course delivered by Terry Daine and thoroughly enjoyed it. This was my first accredited Health & Safety course and information given was not too overwhelming because Terry delivered it in a very interesting and interactive way. I was one female amongst all men in the class but felt like the part of the gang which made me feel at ease. Thank you KSS and Terry.
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Sandrusca S
09:44 28 Mar 19
Brilliant course, I'm quite new to my H&S role and this was pitched just right for me to absorb all the information and achieve the qualification. Facilities were great and all training materials were really helpful. Thanks Terry for all your help and advice.
Alan Evans
Alan Evans
14:19 05 Dec 18
I recently attended the IOSH managing safely course from Keep Safe Solutions.Very good course to attend. Professional, informative and the trainers are great.I would recommend this course to anyone in need of this training.Great facilities, and a good atmosphere in which to learn.
Ashley Roper
Ashley Roper
16:05 30 Nov 18
After having done two separate courses with Keepsafe Solutions Ltd I’d recommend them to anyone aiming to carry out IOSH, NEBOSH, First Aid or any other Health & Safety Training.Nothing is too much trouble for their instructors who aim their lessons at every level of student. Their training facilities, communication, instruction, training aids, support and level of knowledge; all are outstanding.Their consultancy work is also second to none.A first rate company with first rate people that genuinely care about those that they work with.Very highly recommended.
VerxcySkulzz
VerxcySkulzz
10:52 30 Nov 18
ISO Lead Auditor course Liverpool, hosted by a fantastic team. excellent course in a very good environment.
Jim Reason
Jim Reason
08:01 15 Oct 18
I have recently done an ISO45001 auditors course. From the moment I contacted Keep Safe Solutions the experience has been second to none. Excellent communication, well organised and professional. During the training the instructor was first class with bucket loads of knowledge to pass on. The learning environment was superb, relaxed modern and comfortable. Refreshments and lunch catered for. I will be using Keep Safe Solutions again with a view to using them in my workplace in the future. Thank you Danny, Terry and Gareth.
Darren Gasson
Darren Gasson
07:32 12 Oct 18
A big thank you to Keep Safe Solutions for the superb delivery of the ISO 45001 Lead Auditor course. The administration, venue facilities including lunch were first rate. The course content was excellent, as was the knowledge and experience of our tutor Mr David Smith (only the chair of the project committee that developed the standard might I add!). I have been extremely pleased with the training received and will certainly use Keep Safe Solutions again. Unequivocally recommended!!
Terry Johnson
Terry Johnson
22:52 11 Oct 18
I have recently undertaking the ISO 45001 Lead Auditing course through Keep Safe Solutions, the knowledge and experience that the team have is amazing. Keep Safe Solutions will definitely be my first point of call for future training, and when I require some expert advice.
Rachel Johnston
Rachel Johnston
18:43 11 Oct 18
excellent course with well skilled trainers
stephen dommett
stephen dommett
11:21 18 Jul 18
Attended IOSH MS course with KSS in Liverpool, which was excellent. There was a welcoming, friendly atmosphere from the beginning and throughout, great location and facilities. The course lead was very knowledgeable and encouraged group discussions, which gave us confidence going into the exam. Highly recommended!
K La
K La
08:18 17 Jul 18
Absolutely superb course. Terry our instructor was great, really well presented, and pretty interactive considering it was an IOSH health and safety course and done at a great pace. Keep up the good work and anybody wanting to do this course I would highly recommend you get in touch with the guys at keep safe solutions.
Greg Braithwaite
Greg Braithwaite
17:31 13 Jul 18
I Have just completed IOSH Manage Safely Training course provided by keep Safe Solutions, were have I learnt so much and now have a better understanding of the risk assessment process and importance of keeping people safe in the work place.The course was delivered at a very high standard every subject we covered was delivered with a simplified approach to Safety in the work place.I cant thank Danny enough for the course and I will definitely recommend this course.The Training facilitates were of the highest standard with tea, coffee and refreshments provided throughout the day.
Frank Featherstone
Frank Featherstone
08:46 14 May 18
I completed Managing Safely a few weeks ago and was extremely pleased with the professional and experience team Safe Solutions. I have completed courses in the past but would rate this one at the top. Very pleased would recommend .
Adrian Twigg
Adrian Twigg
08:42 14 May 18
I completed an IOSH Managing Safely course with Danny from Keep Safe Solutions in Liverpool. 5 stars all round, I would highly recommended completing the course as it was delivered extremely well in all areas, and very clear that Danny is extremely passionate and experienced in this field. Danny is an instructor that covers all areas to the finest detail, and putting it across in a way that the class can understand.
simon moore
simon moore
19:50 11 May 18
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