Great Colmore Street, Birmingham, B15 2AY
0121 6921051

Mental Health First Aid

We all have mental health and, just like our physical health, it needs looking after. One in four of us will experience a mental health issue in any given year. However, learning more about our mental health and ways to get support can empower people to thrive.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England has been delivering training for over ten year, using national and international research and lived experience insight to create MHFA Courses to benefit individual delegates and the people they live and work with. MHFA Courses are intended to increase mental health knowledge and confidence and give people the skills to recognise signs of mental ill health.

A mentally healthy community is a productive and creative environment and because of this here at St Catherine of Siena Primary School we have a dedicated Mental Health First Aider; Mrs Tims.

She has completed the accredited course which covers topics such as; mental health facts and figures, risk factors, promoting wellbeing, depression and anxiety, first aid for suicidal crisis and self-harm and eating disorders. She has also been trained on how to help a person developing a mental health problem, a person experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem and/or help in a mental health crisis.

 

Together we will make a positive change to conversations about mental health.

 

Just as First Aid is the help given to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained. The aims of any first aid are to;

  1. Preserve Life
  2. Prevent deterioration of any illness or injury
  3. Promote healing and recovery
  4. Provide comfort to the ill or injured

Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the help given to a young person experiencing a mental health issue before professional help is obtained. The aims of Youth MHFA are to;

  1. Preserve life where a young person may be a danger to themselves or others
  2. Provide help to prevent the emotional or mental health issue developing into a more serious state.
  3. Promote the recovery of good mental health
  4. Provide comfort to a young person experiencing a mental health issue
  5. Raise awareness of mental health issues in the community
  6. Reduce stigma and discrimination

Mental Health First Aiders are not therapists however they can recognise the symptoms of mental health issues, provide initial help and enable a young person to access appropriate professional help.

Our Mental Health First Aider

Mrs Tims has been trained on how to help a person developing a mental health problem, a person experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem and/or help in a mental health crisis.