First Aid for mental health issues

Mental Health Awareness Week is a national awareness campaign running in the UK from Monday 13^th to Sunday 19^th May 2019.

In support of the campaign, here we look at some key statistics related to this important issue and explain how our specialist Mental Health First Aid courses offer vital knowledge and support.    

Half of mental health problems are established by the age of 14 and 75% by the age of 24

This means that mental health awareness in young adults is crucial, so in our new mental health first aid courses offered at First Response (First Aid) Ltd, our delegates are equipped with the knowledge to recognise a range of mental health conditions. This includes learning how to start a supportive conversation and when and how to signpost a person to seek appropriate professional help.

At the other end of the age scale, depression affects 22% of men and 28% of woman aged over 65

In our new Mental Health first aid courses our learners will gain the knowledge to identify when a person may have a mental health condition and know where they need to signpost them to get appropriate help.

In 2017-18 mental health issues accounted for 15.4 million sick leave days in the UK and 300,000 people a year leave the workplace because of mental health issues

Our tailored courses teach participants about the ‘First Aid Action Plan’ for mental health, helping them to implement a positive mental health culture within their workplace. UK businesses could save £8 billion per year by implementing better mental health wellbeing support in the workplace.

1 in 6 adults have experienced anxiety, depression or something similar in the past week, and 57% of men and 68% of women with mental health problems are parents.

In response, our Mental Health First Aid training courses provide individuals with the practical skills, knowledge and confidence to recognise the symptoms of a range of mental health conditions and effectively support anyone experiencing mental distress.

They will also have access to key information on how to guide those experiencing problems towards seeking appropriate professional help, whatever their age and stage. When things get difficult there are many tips, tricks, and techniques to counterbalance how we are feeling.

Almost one in three adults have felt so stressed by their body image and/or appearance that they felt overwhelmed and unable to cope.

Our Mental Health First Aid courses teach that we should stop and ask how someone is and most importantly to listen non-judgementally to their reply.

Here are our top 7 tips for wellbeing:

1. Listen to music

Music allows the mind and body to harmonise by joining both physical and mental activity, so it can help us to de-stress. Why not create a playlist that you can listen to when you need to?

2.  Try a breathing exercise

When we are busy and stressed our breathing becomes shallower. The subsequent lack of oxygen can make us feel tense and tired, so taking some deep breaths can really help.

3. Try active relaxation

Exercise can lower levels of anxiety and depression, as well as improving fitness levels. So find something you enjoy and remember that walking for just 10 minutes a day can be beneficial. If you are thinking about taking up running you can read our first aid tips for runners here.

4.  Find your happy place

Dr Matthew Bambling, a senior lecturer in psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at University of Queensland, has found that with a conscious effort we can actually think ourselves to a ‘happy place’. He says that a few minutes in your happy place every day can help to revitalise your brain and body so that you can more effectively handle stressful situations.

5. Pause and listen

Recent studies have shown that being aware of what is taking place in the present directly enhances well-being and savouring ‘the moment’ can help to increase your mood.

6. Connect with people

Research shows that people who spend time with their family, friends and colleagues have improved wellbeing. Why not pick up the phone instead of sending an email or a text?

7. Keep learning

Achieving a goal can help increase your confidence and help you to feel more positive about the future, learning increases brain cell growth and therefore both memory and mood are enhanced. So why not invest three days of your life to save someone else? 

Find out more about our Mental Health First Aid Courses

If you would like to find out more about our Mental Health First Aid courses or would like to book onto a course today, please contact out friendly team today on 01543 372888. 

*Please note that First Response (First Aid) Ltd offers first aid tips for guidance only and should not be taken as medical advice. First Response (First Aid) Ltd is not accountable or responsible for any diagnosis made or actions taken based on our guidance and advice.