12.02.2015 Mental Health First Aid Course South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust Talking Therapies are running two free Mental Health First Aid 2 day Courses on 2nd and 3rd March 2015 and 13th and 16th March 2015 9.30 am to 4.30pm Mental Health First Aid is an educational course which teaches people how to identify, understand and help a person who may be developing a mental health problem. In the same way as we learn physical first aid, mental health first aid teaches you how to recognise those crucial warning signs of mental ill health. Developed in Australia in 2000 and now internationally recognised in twenty three countries, the MHFA course teaches people how to recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues, provide help on a first aid basis and effectively guide those towards the right support services. We continually develop our training products to keep them at the cutting edge of research and best practice. Our robust quality assurance processes ensure that instructors deliver training of the highest quality. Mental ill health can affect every single one of us. There is widespread ignorance of mental ill health in the general population and there is the associated stigma too. For some the stigma can lead to delays in people seeking help and support. There is also a lack of confidence in what to do if someone is distressed or in a crisis situation. In any one year, approximately 1 in 4 British adults experience at least one diagnosable mental health problem. Mental ill health costs UK employers an estimated £26 billion, which equates to an average of over £1,000 per employee. Researchers say that most employers could make big savings with a few simple steps. (...) most firms could make bi By learning to recognise the signs that someone may be unwell, you may be able to provide initial help, to guide a person towards appropriate professional help, and in its most powerful form, save a life by learning basic suicide intervention skills. Learn Mental Health First Aid By attending one of our Mental Health First Aid courses, you'll learn to: Spot the early signs of a mental health problem Feel confident helping someone experiencing a problem Provide help on a first aid basis Help prevent someone from hurting themselves or others Help stop a mental health problem from getting worse Help someone recover faster Guide someone towards the right support Reduce the stigma of mental health problems The course is taught over a period of two days The aims of MHFA are: To preserve life where a person may be a danger to themselves or others. To provide help to prevent the mental health problem developing into a more serious state. To promote the recovery of good mental health. To provide comfort to a person experiencing a mental health problem. To raise awareness of mental health issues in the community. To reduce stigma and discrimination. At the end of the course participants will be able to:Recognise the symptoms of mental health problems Provide initial help Guide the person towards appropriate professional help. Be mindful of their own wellbeing. South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust Talking Therapies are running two Mental Health First Aid 2 day Courses on 2nd and 3rd March 2015 and 13th and 16th March 2015 9.30 am to 4.30pm These courses are free to applicants and the courses are being held at: The Lancastrian Suite Lancaster Road Dunston Gateshead Tyne & Wear NE11 9JR If you would like to book a place on the course please telephone Talking Therapies on: 0191 2832541 or 0191 2832596 or e-mail: derek.winter@stft.nhs.uk