Mental health first aid champion
Mental health first aid champion
Duration
Minimum 1 day of 7 to 8 learning hours
Purpose/scope
The purpose of this standard is to provide candidates with the knowledge and skills to become a mental health first aid (MHFA) Champion.
MHFA champions have:
- an understanding of common mental health issues
- knowledge and confidence to advocate for mental health awareness
- ability to spot signs of mental ill health
- skills to support positive wellbeing
The scope of this standard covers:
Session 1
- mental health first aid
- mental health and stress in the workplace
- stigma and discrimination
- depression
- anxiety disorders
- other mental health issues (eating disorders, self-harm, psychosis)
- early warning signs of mental ill health
- alcohol, drugs and mental health
Session 2
- applying the mental health first aid action plan
- action 1: approach the person, assess and assist with any crisis
- suicide
- action 2: listen and communicate non-judgmentally
- action 3: give support and information
- action 4: encourage the person to get appropriate professional help
- action 5: encourage other supports
- recovery
- building a mentally healthy workplace
- action planning for using MHFA
Occupational relevance
Training delivered against this standard would be relevant to the following occupational group(s):
- operative and craft
- supervision.
Candidate pre-requisites
There are no candidate pre-requisites as part of this standard.
Instruction/supervision
Qualified mental health first aid (MHFA) instructors can deliver this course. Instructors must have completed the seven-day adult MHFA instructor training course, and also attended an adult MHFA one day CPD.
Delivery
All materials and equipment must be of a suitable quality and quantity for candidates to achieve learning outcomes and must comply with relevant legislation.
The day includes a mix of presentations, group discussions and workshop activities. The instructor can adapt the training to the relevant sector, so examples and scenarios relevant to the construction sector should be used.
The class size is limited to 16 people per course to allow training to be delivered in a safe manner and enable candidates to achieve the learning outcomes.
The following method may be used in the delivery of this standard:
- classroom
This standard is considered to contain 51 per cent or more theoretical learning.
This standard is considered to be set at an intermediate level.
Assessment
For the successful completion of training, the trainer must be satisfied that the candidate has achieved all of the learning outcomes.
Quality assurance
Quality assurance against this standard will require initial approval of the training organisation and their content mapped to the standard.
CITB will also conduct an approval intervention, either desk-based or centre visit, to ensure the training organisation can meet the requirements of the training standard.
Approved training organisations (ATOs) will be required to present information on records of training and assessment upon request to CITB for desk based analysis. They will also be visited annually by the CITB quality assurance team.
Renewal/refresher
There are no mandatory renewal or recommended refreshment requirements for this standard. The recommended refreshment requirement is every three years (as per other Health & Safety Executive (HSE) first aid courses)
Approval date
July 2019
Review cycle
Either on request or in 3 years from approval date.
Learning outcomes
The candidate will be able to:
- Recognise the main signs and symptoms of mental ill health
- Provide initial help
- Guide the person towards appropriate professional help
- Develop an understanding of how they can create and maintain a healthier and more productive workforce
- Be mindful of their own wellbeing
Additional information about this standard
Research and policy
- Thriving at work report (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
- The Department of Works and Pensions and department of Health and Social Care policy paper: improving lives: the future of work health and disability (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Legislation
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
- Work-related stress (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
- Mental health at work and work-related stress (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
- Tackling work-related stress using Management Standards (PDF download) (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
- HSE Stress-related resources (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
- HSE statistics for stress (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
- HSE Work-related stress, anxiety, and depression (PDF download) (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Advice and support (not an exhaustive list)
Your own organisation might give free/subsidised access to confidential counselling and advice services.
- ACAS (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Information, advice, training, conciliation and other services for employers and employees to help prevent or resolve workplace problems - Anxiety UK (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Tel: 0844 477 5774
A national charity for people affected by anxiety disorders - Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
- Big White Wall (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
A safe online community of people who are anxious, down, or not coping, but willing to support each other by sharing their troubles. The site is guided by trained professionals - Building Mental Health (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Freely available, industry-wide framework and charter to tackle the mental health crisis in the construction industry - Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Nationwide tel: 0800 58 58 58
London tel: 0808 802 58 58
Charity dedicated to preventing male suicide. Helpline (phone or webchat) for UK men who need to talk or find info and support. 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year - Construction Industry Helpline (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Tel: 0345 605 1956
Supported by the Lighthouse Club. Advice and help covering: occupational health and wellbeing, stress, divorce, tax, and finance - Dealing with Depression (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Online forum that provides a friendly and safe place for people to share information and talk about their experiences of depression - Hafal (Wales) (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Leading charity for people with serious mental illness and their carers. Supports individuals whose lives have been affected by serious mental illness - Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Tel: 0345 605 1956
Providing financial and emotional support to the construction community and their families - Mates in Mind (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Tel: 020 3510 5018
A national charity for employers that supports construction companies to raise awareness and address the stigma of poor mental health and improve positive mental wellbeing - Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Tel: 020 7250 8062
A community interest company that supports construction companies to raise awareness and address the stigma of poor mental health and improve positive mental wellbeing. Providers of mental health first aid training - Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Scotland (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
MHFA is available to increase knowledge, reduce stigma and increase supportive reactions in terms of mental health. Providers of mental health first aid training - Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Wales (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Tel: 01495 707360
MHFA is available to increase knowledge, reduce stigma and increase supportive reactions in terms of mental health. Providers of mental health first aid training - Mental Health Foundation (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Provides, information, research, campaigns, and works to improve services for anyone affected by mental health issues - Mental Health Helplines Partnership Project (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
The Telephone Helplines Association's website lists a number of different mental health telephone services - Mind Apples (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Helps people manage their minds, based on science and backed by a passionate community - Mind Infoline
Tel: 0300 123 3393 (or text 86463)
Leading mental health charity provides information and help on mental health and wellbeing. - Mind Matters: Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Provide talking therapies to adults (18+) registered with a GP in Surrey who are experiencing common mental health issues. - Mind Infoline: 0300 123 3393 (or text 86463). Leading mental health charity provides information and help on mental health and wellbeing.
- Mind Matters: Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. www.mindmattersnhs.co.uk/ (External link - Opens in a new tab or window). Provide talking therapies to adults (18+) registered with a GP in Surrey who are experiencing common mental health issues.
- NHS England and Wales 111 (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
- Papyrus: Prevention of Young Suicide (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Tel: 0800 068 4141
SMS: 07786 209697
Confidential help and advice to young people and anyone worried about a young person - Remploy - Putting ability first (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Phone and chatline: 0300 456 8110
UK's leading disability specialist, transforming lives through sustainable employment - Rethink Mental Illness’ National Advice and Information Service (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Tel: 0300 5000 927; Mon to Fri 9:30am to 4pm
Expert advice and information on issues that affect the lives of people coping with mental illness - Samaritans (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Tel:116 123
A safe place for you to talk any time 24/7 for people who are in despair or suicidal - SAMH Scottish Association for Mental Health (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Provides mental health social care support, homelessness, addictions, and employment services, among others - SANEline (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Tel: 0845 767 8000; 6pm to 11pm daily
Support, information and advice for anyone affected by mental health issues - Support in Mind Scotland (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Tel: 0131 662 4359
Supports and empowers all those affected by mental illness, including family members, carers and supporters - Time to Change (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Growing movement of people changing how we all think and act about mental health problems - Workplace mental health support service (External link - Opens in a new tab or window)
Tel: 0300 456 8114
Free and confidential support service covering: stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issue
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