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Writer's pictureWilliam Mills

Mental Health First Aid

Updated: Apr 10, 2019



A first aider interacting with an employee suspected of suffering with mental health issues
Mental Health First Aider Training

What is Mental Health?


Mental Health is defined as a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being.


It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices both good and bad.


one in six adults experiences symptoms of a common mental health problem, such asn anxiety or depression, and one in five adults has considered taking their own life at some point.

We all experience stressful events from to time that can change our normal behaviour. This can include things like a relative dying, losing a job or a relationship ending. We may feel stressed, angry or sad, which are all natural responses but will probably only be temporary.


Sometimes changes in behaviour can suggest that someone is developing a mental illness. Typically, a mental illness rarely comes out of the blue. You may be the best judge when someone you know is behaving differently. You may notice a change in behaviour over a short period of time or over a number of months.



Some mental health issues are listed below and you can click on any to get further information:





Why is it important to employers?


Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1971 it states:


"It is an employer's duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees and other people who might be affected by their business. Employers must do whatever is reasonably practicable to achieve this"

The HSE’s updated first aid guidance states companies should consider ways to “manage mental ill health in your workplace which are appropriate for your business”.

Mental health issues can also impact hugely on your business due to time off, loss of productivity or even the death of an employee. As with any death of an employee there will be an investigation and part of that investigation would be the history of the employee and what your company did to help the employee, did you do everything you could?


Work can also aggravate pre-existing conditions, and problems at work can bring on symptoms or make their effects worse.


Whether work is causing the health issue or aggravating it, employers have a legal responsibility to help their employees. Work-related mental health issues must to be assessed to measure the levels of risk to staff. Where a risk is identified, steps must be taken to remove it or reduce it as far as reasonably practicable.


Mental health issues can impact hugely on your business due to time off, loss of productivity or even the death of an employee.




Mental Health First Aiders


The role of a mental health first aider is to identify a person who may be suffering with a mental health issue.


They are not there to diagnose a specific condition as they are not qualified to do so however they may have a suspicion as to what may be the issue and are to simply help the person open up and guide them to wards their required help.





Our mental health first aiders training course will help your assigned employees with the following subjects:

  • Identifying mental health conditions

  • Providing advice and starting a conversation

  • First Aid action plan for mental health

  • Mental health in the workplace

  • Stress

  • Drugs and alcohol

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder

  • Self-harm

  • Suicide

  • Eating disorders

  • Personality disorders

  • Bipolar disorder

  • Psychosis

  • Schizophrenia


Take a look at our various solutions on Mental Health First Aiders as we have some unbeatable group booking deals for you.



Various solutions for you to comply with the new health and safety first aid regulations
Swan Training Mental Health First Aider Training

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