This page is designed to help support staff in workplaces who have a role which supports staff with mental health issues. This may be a DSA (Disability Support Advisor), a peer supporter, an HR business partner or an employee assistance lead.
Hold Difficult Conversations Well
Training also develops your active listening skills so you can be present with someone who needs your support. This also helps you to deal with difficult conversations in a better way. Often people just need to feel heard before you can start to think about what else to do.
Spot Early Warning Signs
Most crises have clear antecedents. They don’t just happen. A good mental health training program can help you recognise early warning signs and do something about them before they get worse.
Use a Shared Vocabulary
The use of a shared vocabulary across your team reduces uncertainty and reduces embarrassment. Consistent language for consistent circumstances means that discussions can commence and progress as you expect.
Signpost Without Overstepping
Support staff must know when to refer someone to formal mental health support, and how to go about referring them to that support. CIPD sets out what good workplace mental health support is and what responsibility that places on employees and managers.
Understand the Limits of Your Role
A good training program helps to support staff to understand the limits of their role and to avoid taking on too much in order to prevent their own burnout.
Find the Right Course Locally
Searching online for Mental Health Training Courses Milton Keynes will bring up a list of accredited training providers, many running local courses in the Milton Keynes area.
A useful reference for Mental Health Training Courses Milton Keynes is www.tidaltraining.co.uk/mental-health-training-courses/milton-keynes/.
Training support staff is not about turning them into therapists. It’s about helping them to be steadier, more confident and clear about what help is best in any given situation.