Southwark Council are offering several sessions of free Mental Health First Aid Training for VCS organisations working with refugees and asylum-seekers.
What is Mental Health First Aid?
The Mental Health First Aid course (MHFA) uses the model of physical first aid training to mental health. The course teaches attendees to:
- identify symptoms of different mental health problems
- how to provide immediate help to people experiencing distress and mental health difficulties
- how to guide those people to access appropriate treatments and support
It doesn’t teach attendees to be therapists, but it does provide key training on how to listen, reassure, and respond, even in a mental health crisis – and how to support people before a crisis happens.
What is the training offer?
This course provides specialist training to attendees, enabling them to become accredited Mental Health First Aiders. The goal of this training is to equip attendees with the skills and knowledge to support the mental health of the refugees and asylum seekers with whom they work.
It will focus on empathy, understanding, de-escalation and resource signposting, working towards better mental health for vulnerable populations across Southwark. There are several levels of MHFA training; this is the full, two-day accreditation.
There are also half-day awareness courses taking place in early 2023.
After the course, attendees will receive
- A certificate of attendance to certify that you are a qualified Mental Health First Aider
- A manual to which you can refer at any point in the future
- A quick reference card for the Mental Health First Aid action plan
- A workbook to support your own mental health.
Details of the training
- Two full days, 9am-5pm
- Held in-person at 160 Tooley Street
- Free of charge
- Delivered through Southwark Council by BritSafe, an accredited MHFA provider.
Available dates
How to book
Sign up for your free place via the links above.
Please note, places are limited and they encourage participants to sign up ASAP. Sign-up for tickets will close one week before the training
For more information
Please contact Becca Sinnott (Rebecca.sinnott@southwark.gov.uk) in the Public Health team at Southwark Council if you have any questions or would like to discuss the training opportunity further.