Mental health first aid

Duration

Minimum 2 days of 6 learning hours per day

Purpose/scope

The purpose of this standard is to provide candidates with the knowledge and skills to: recognise mental health issues, provide first aid response, support the person’s recovery, and signpost other services.

The scope of this standard covers:

• mental health and the factors that can affect wellbeing, including stress
• mental health issues including: anxiety disorders, suicide, depression, eating disorders, self-harm, substance misuse and psychosis
• how to recognise early warning signs of mental health issues
• how to follow the mental health first aid action plan to promote the recovery of good mental health
• how to use enhanced interpersonal skills such as active listening
• how to provide mental health first aid in crisis situations to preserve life where the person may be at risk to themselves or others
• how to guide someone to further support such as: self-help, employer, NHS, or a combination
• how to help a person recover from a mental health issue
• how to reduce the stigma and discrimination around mental health issues

Occupational relevance

Training delivered against this standard would be relevant to the following occupational group(s):

• operative and craft
• supervision.

Candidate pre-requisites

There are no candidate pre-requisites as part of this standard.

Instruction/supervision

Qualified mental health first aid (MHFA) instructors can deliver this course. Instructors must have completed the seven-day adult MHFA instructor training course.

Delivery

All materials and equipment must be of a suitable quality and quantity for candidates to achieve learning outcomes and must comply with relevant legislation.

Learning should include at least 25% of learning activities to suit scenario examples, simulated practical examples, group activities, and discussions.

Examples and scenarios relevant to the construction sector should be used.

The class size and candidate/instructor ratio is maximum 16:1 to allow training to be delivered in a safe manner and enable candidates to achieve the learning outcomes.

The following method may be used in the delivery of this standard:

• classroom

This standard is considered to contain 51 per cent or more theoretical learning.

This standard is considered to be set at an advanced level.

Assessment

For the successful completion of training, the trainer must be satisfied that the candidate has achieved all of the learning outcomes.

Quality assurance

Quality assurance against this standard will require initial approval of the training organisation and their content mapped to the standard. 

CITB will also conduct an approval intervention, either desk-based or centre visit, to ensure the training organisation can meet the requirements of the training standard. 

Approved training organisations (ATOs) will be required to present information on records of training and assessment upon request to CITB for desk based analysis. They will also be visited annually by the CITB quality assurance team.

Renewal/refresher

There are no mandatory renewal or recommended refreshment requirements for this standard. The recommended refreshment requirement is every three years (as per other Health & Safety Executive (HSE) first aid courses)

Approval date

July 2019

Review cycle

Either on request or in 3 years from approval date.

Learning outcomes

The candidate will be able to:

• Describe mental health and the factors that can affect wellbeing, including stress
• Describe mental health issues including: anxiety, suicide, depression, eating disorders, self-harm, substance misuse and psychosis
• Recognise early warning signs of mental health issues
• Follow the mental health first aid action plan 
• Use enhanced interpersonal skills such as active listening 
• Provide mental health first aid in crisis situations to preserve life where the person may be at risk to themselves or others
• Guide someone to further support such as: self-help, employer, NHS, or a combination
• Help a person recover from a mental health issue
• Describe how to reduce the stigma and discrimination around mental health issues

Additional information about this standard

Research and policy

• Thriving at work report
• The Department of Works and Pensions and department of Health and Social Care policy paper: improving lives: the future of work health and disability

Legislation

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Health & Safety Executive (HSE)

• Work-related stress
• Mental health at work and work-related stress
• Tackling work-related stress using Management Standards (PDF download)
• Stress-related resources
• HSE statistics for stress
• Work-related stress, anxiety, and depression (PDF download)

Advice and support (not an exhaustive list)

Your own organisation might give free/subsidised access to confidential counselling and advice services.

• ACAS
  Information, advice, training, conciliation and other services for employers and employees to help prevent or resolve workplace problems
• Anxiety UK
  Tel: 0844 477 5774 
  A national charity for people affected by anxiety disorders
• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
• Big White Wall
  A safe online community of people who are anxious, down, or not coping, but willing to support each other by sharing their troubles. The site is guided by trained professionals
• Building Mental Health
  Freely available, industry-wide framework and charter to tackle the mental health crisis in the construction industry
• Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
  Nationwide tel: 0800 58 58 58
  London tel: 0808 802 58 58
  Charity dedicated to preventing male suicide. Helpline (phone or webchat) for UK men who need to talk or find info and support. 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year
• Construction Industry Helpline
  Tel: 0345 605 1956 
  Supported by the Lighthouse Club. Advice and help covering: occupational health and wellbeing, stress, divorce, tax, and finance
• Dealing with Depression
  Online forum that provides a friendly and safe place for people to share information and talk about their experiences of depression
• Hafal (Wales)
  Leading charity for people with serious mental illness and their carers. Supports individuals whose lives have been affected by serious mental illness
• Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity
  Tel: 0345 605 1956
  Providing financial and emotional support to the construction community and their families
• Mates in Mind
  Tel: 020 3510 5018 
  A national charity for employers that supports construction companies to raise awareness and address the stigma of poor mental health and improve positive mental wellbeing
• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England
  Tel: 020 7250 8062
  A community interest company that supports construction companies to raise awareness and address the stigma of poor mental health and improve positive mental wellbeing. Providers of mental health first aid training
• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Scotland
  MHFA is available to increase knowledge, reduce stigma and increase supportive reactions in terms of mental health.  Providers of mental health first aid training
• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Wales
  Tel: 01495 707360 
  MHFA is available to increase knowledge, reduce stigma and increase supportive reactions in terms of mental health.  Providers of mental health first aid training
• Mental Health Foundation
  Provides, information, research, campaigns, and works to improve services for anyone affected by mental health issues
• Mental Health Helplines Partnership Project
  The Telephone Helplines Association's website lists a number of different mental health telephone services
• Mind Apples
  Helps people manage their minds, based on science and backed by a passionate community
• Mind Infoline
  Tel: 0300 123 3393 (or text 86463)
  Leading mental health charity provides information and help on mental health and wellbeing.
• Mind Matters: Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
  Provide talking therapies to adults (18+) registered with a GP in Surrey who are experiencing common mental health issues
• NHS England and Wales 111
  Both organisations offer people medical information and advice by phone or over the internet
• Papyrus: Prevention of Young Suicide
  Tel: 0800 068 4141   
  SMS: 07786 209697
  Confidential help and advice to young people and anyone worried about a young person
• Remploy - Putting ability first
  Phone and chatline: 0300 456 8110
  UK's leading disability specialist, transforming lives through sustainable employment
• Rethink Mental Illness’ National Advice and Information Service
  Tel: 0300 5000 927; Mon to Fri 9:30am to 4pm  
  Expert advice and information on issues that affect the lives of people coping with mental illness
• Samaritans
  Tel:116 123 
  A safe place for you to talk any time 24/7 for people who are in despair or suicidal
• SAMH Scottish Association for Mental Health
  Provides mental health social care support, homelessness, addictions, and employment services, among others
• SANEline
  Tel: 0845 767 8000; 6pm to 11pm daily
  Support, information and advice for anyone affected by mental health issues
• Support in Mind Scotland
  Tel: 0131 662 4359 
  Supports and empowers all those affected by mental illness, including family members, carers and supporters
• Time to Change
  Growing movement of people changing how we all think and act about mental health problems
• Workplace mental health support service
  Tel: 0300 456 8114
  Free and confidential support service covering: stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issue