Adult Mental Health: Workplace First Aider Training in South Africa

This course is suitable for those looking to understand and improve their knowledge about mental health and to learn the skills to support their own and others’ positive wellbeing in the workplace.

Please be aware that this course focuses on employees in the workplace and covers subjects that some people may find distressing, including suicide and self-harm. If a delegate feels overwhelmed, they can leave the course at any time.

However, if you feel in advance that this subject may be too distressing for the delegate, please do not book them on without first asking them whether they would feel comfortable attending. If the delegate is unsure whether this topic is suitable for them, please encourage them to contact us to discuss their concerns. For support with your mental health, please contact Samaritans on 116 123, or NHS 111.

Delegates must be 16 or older to attend this course.

• an in depth understanding of mental health and the factors that can affect wellbeing
• practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental illness
• an understanding of how to perform some physical first aid as part of their response to mental illness
• the confidence to step in, reassure and support a person in distress
• knowledge on how to implement reasonable mental health adjustments when an individual returns to work
• the skills to create a positive mental health culture in the workplace.

• What is mental health?
• What is the difference between a mental health episode, crisis and condition?
• What factors can affect our mental health?
• The mental health continuum
• Roles and responsibilities of a Mental health First Aider and Responder
• Key attributes and behaviours of a Mental Health First Aider
• Mental health action plan protocol (DR EFG)
• How to support an individual (and their line manager) when returning to work after an absence due to poor mental health.
• Physical first aid skills to be used in response to mental illness
• How to carry out a risk assessment when supporting an individual
• How to spot the difference between a medical emergency and an imminent threat to life (including how to identify which mental health conditions may be described as either) and what action to take
• Recognising stress and how to support someone who may be experiencing stress
• Recognising when someone is in crisis
• Suicide continuum, risk factors, signs and symptoms
• Recognising and understanding self-harm, eating disorders, PTSD & OCD
• Psychosis - including delusions, thought disorder and hallucinations
• Bipolar disorder
• How to display empathy
• Key skills to support an individual with poor mental health, including where to signpost them and how to have important wellbeing conversations
• Overview of key legislation relevant to mental health
• Exploring attitudes around mental health and how to create a positive culture in the workplace through influence and action planning