Mental Health Courses
We all know how important it is to take care of our physical wellbeing. However, it’s also vital that we look after our mental wellbeing. If you’re feeling low, sad or stressed then racing welfare can help in a variety of ways.
Racing Welfare is committed to ensuring that racing’s workforce can access mental health and wellbeing support services when required, free of charge and without lengthy waiting lists. All of our welfare officers have received mental health first aid training or will do so within their first year in post. They are able to provide information and advice to people regarding mental health support and counselling options.
We run two types of mental health courses, a half-day awareness course and a two-day first aid course.
A MHFAider® as equally as important as a Physical Health First Aider – the two are entwined together and affect each other. Therefore it is crucial we have someone in every workplace to spot the early warning signs and symptoms of mental ill-health and to have the confidence to start up what could potentially be a lifesaving conversation. Be proactive and make sure you have someone that could help save lives!
Benefits of becoming a MHFAider®:
- Understanding the meaning of Mental Health and the factors that affect our wellbeing.
- Able to spot the common early warning signs and symptoms of mental ill health and start up a conversation.
- Confidence to approach someone in distress and support
- Following the pandemic, mental health training has never been more important.
- Enhance interpersonal skills such as non-judgement listening
- Understand how to look after your own wellbeing, especially when supporting others.
- Training reduces stigma, increases confidence in assisting someone with a mental health issue.
- Supporting someone in recovery.
- Build resilience in the workplace
- Mental health is a growing concern and is indicated that one in four of us are likely to experience a mental health issue each year, which is likely to impact on our ability to work. Mental ill health is the single largest cause of disability in the UK, with the cost of mental illness to the economy estimated at around £105 billion annually (Department of Health). This includes direct costs of services, lost productivity at work and reduced quality of life.
- One of the most effective ways to reduce costs is through ensuring that your workplace has recognised accredited mental health training.
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an accredited training course which teaches people how to identify, understand and help someone who may be experiencing a mental health issue.
MHFA won’t teach you to be a therapist, but it will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis – and even potentially stop a crisis from happening.
You’ll learn to recognise warning signs of mental ill-health, and develop the skills and confidence to approach and support someone while keeping yourself safe.
You’ll also learn how to empower someone to access the support they might need for recovery or successful management of symptoms. This could include self-help books or websites, accessing therapy services through their GP, their school or place of work, online self-referral, support groups, and more.
What’s more, you’ll gain an understanding of how to support positive wellbeing and tackle stigma and discrimination in the world around you.
Everyone who completes the course will receive:
- An accredited MHFA certificate
- MHFA logo to add to your email signature
- Access to Racing’s Support Line for support and advice
- Posters for your workplace
- Resources
- MHFA Manual
- MHFA Workbook
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS COURSE
An introductory course designed to increase mental health awareness and give an understanding of how to look after well being and challenge stigma.
This course raises awareness of mental health. It covers:
- What mental health is and how to challenge stigma
- A basic knowledge of some common mental health issues
- An introduction to looking after your own mental health and maintaining wellbeing
- Confidence to support someone in distress or who may be experiencing a mental health issue
Everyone who completes the course gets:
- A certificate of attendance to say you are Mental Health Aware
- A manual to refer to whenever you need it
- A workbook including a helpful toolkit to support your own mental health
BOOK YOUR PLACE
MHFAider Support App®
The app empowers you as MHFAider® with the following features:
- Secure conversation logging for you to make reflective notes to record and reflect while protecting confidentiality
- Reminders for wellbeing check-ins with people you are supporting
- 24/7 text support service through Shout, for advice and reassurance on a Mental Health First Aid conversation or to support your own wellbeing after a difficult conversation
- Resource library of toolkits, guidance, animations and core mental health concepts to support the you in your role as MHFAider®
- Signposting database through Hub of Hope to find local and national mental health services for additional support
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