To acknowledge Mental Health Awareness Week, Kentec Training are working with NUCO to launch our mental health first aid courses which will help raise awareness of mental illness, enabling people to support themselves and others to aid recovery. Our courses are designed to reduce stigma through education and increase the provision of care for those who have a mental illness. 

In a report by mental health charity, Mind, they found that only 45% of managers would spot an employee experiencing mental health issues, despite them feeling confident in promoting wellbeing. With the report also revealing that more than 7 in 10 employees have experienced mental health problems, it is clear that employers and employees need to do all they can to support their staff and colleagues and help them find professional help if needed. 

We have launched the following courses to help educate and empower those in the workplace to deal with mental health:

• Level 1 Award in Awareness of First Aid for Mental Health – This course is suitable for anyone within an organisation looking to gain a better understanding of the common signs and symptoms of mental health issues and want to be a part of reducing stigma surrounding mental health.
• Level 2 Award in First Aid for Mental Health – This course is suitable for those who require a more in-depth overview of the common signs and symptoms of mental health issues. The main focus of the course is to promote a positive mental health culture and first aid action plan to take back to your organisation.
• Level 3 Award in Supervising First Aid for Mental Health – This course is suitable for those who wish to be mental health champions and wellness managers It will provide an in-depth look at a wider range of common mental health conditions, signposting to professionals to provide support and an understanding of how to implement a positive workplace culture and the importance of it being led by senior figures within an organisation.

We understand the importance of increasing awareness, reducing stigma and working as a cohesive team to empower and support our workforce. However, this cannot simply be addressed through education at an individual level. It is important that organisational culture and development be addressed so that any changes made are communicated and successfully implemented long term, ensuring that organisations are progressing and learning as well as those who are within them.

In order to address these organisational elements, we have partnered with Joe Cheal from Imaginarium Learning & Development. He has been involved in the field of management and organisational development since 1993. He holds an MSc in Organisational Development, a degree in Philosophy and Psychology and diplomas in Coaching and Psychotherapy. Together we have developed the Positive Mental Health Toolkit for Supervisors/Managers Course.

The aim of this course is to equip managers and supervisors with a ‘toolbox’ of ideas and strategies they can implement in the workplace to help deal with stress and performance in staff. It provides practical support to those who need to deal with challenging situations and conversations within the workplace while remaining positive and supportive.

We hope these courses can be of use to your organisation. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us on 0333 666 0555.