Mental Health First Aid Course Schedule

Mental Health at Work

For a number of reasons mental health is still, to many, considered a taboo subject. But there are a number of small, simple steps that individuals and employers can take to make their workplaces mentally healthier.

Ongoing research confirms that a culture of fear and silence still exits around mental health and that this culture is costly to employers.  Simple efforts to start conversations about mental health don’t however have to be difficult and here at Goldcross we can help show you and your employees how to overcome the stigma associated with mental health.

Whether you are an individual simply seeking to increase your knowledge of mental health, or an employer looking for specific training for your staff we have a range of mental health first aid courses courses to suit you.

The Importance of Providing For Mental Health

There is still a considerable lack of understanding surrounding mental ill health and many misconceptions persist with regard to its impact. It is still far to often considered a sign of weakness, which it clearly is not, and an improved understanding of mental health issues throughout orgnisations is important as:

• mental ill health is very common – the Department of Health advises that one in four of us will experience it at some point in our lives
• individuals with positive mental health are more likely to work productively, interact well with colleagues and adapt to changes in the workplace environment
  
• individuals who feel supported by their employer are more likely to be able to stay in work or return to work after a period of absence, reducing long-term absences throughout the organisation
• individuals who feel unable to talk to their line manager may attend work when they are too ill to safely carry out their duties, leading to an increased health and safety risk
• if mental ill health is not treated, the pressures of it can cause other ‘secondary symptoms’ i.e. the strain of coping with depression may lead to an individual becoming dependent on alcohol or drugs.