A 1-day training course for managers

“At any one time, one worker in six in the UK is experiencing a mental health problem.  Depression and anxiety are the most common, and they affect every workplace in the country, big or small. For too many people, unnoticed and untreated mental distress leads to protracted periods of absence and loss of job and income.”
Professor Bob Grove, Centre for Mental Health joint Chief Executive

This mental health course takes into account the requirements of the Equalities Act 2010

Mental Health Awareness Course Overview

This 1-day training course outlines the most common mental health disorders and helps managers recognise some of the signs and symptoms.  It also raises awareness of the stress response and how it impacts on mental health in the workplace.  The relevance and requirements of the Equalities Act 2010 are also reviewed.

Managers learn the most effective ways of managing someone with either a suspected or diagnosed mental health condition, as well as helping their team cope during times when a member of the team is displaying some of the challenging behaviours associated with the most common mental health conditions.  The purpose of the training is to help managers understand the different behaviours associated with mental health conditions within the workplace, as well as ways of managing and containing those behaviours.

Many organisations lose the skills and experience of many capable employees who are managed incorrectly and feel they have no choice but to choose between a deterioration of mental health or leaving their employment. Employers have a duty of care to their employees and investment in the mental health of a workforce must be embedded in the core of the business.

Challenging Behaviour v Mental Health Conditions
 
Is it challenging behaviour or is it a mental health condition?  There is no hard and fast rule, however this is the question many managers want the answer to when faced with challenging behaviour from someone with a confirmed or suspected mental health condition. One of the ways to deal with this is to make managers aware that most mental health conditions are episodic and during the episodes behaviours may become disruptive and challenging.

Managers need to learn what 'baseline behaviours' are and how to recognise them in the people they work with.  As managers tend to know those they manage fairly well this is not difficult once they know what they are looking for.  This will help managers distinguish between behaviours associated with a mental health disorder when the individual concerned is having an episode and “normal” challenging and disruptive behaviour within the workplace.

 

Who Should Attend the Mental Health Awareness Course

• Any person working with the general public/service industries
• Anyone working in a team environment
• Anyone whose role involves a requirement to be aware of the new Equality Act and it’s impact on employees with mental health issues

 

Course Objectives

This mental health course enables managers, supervisors, team leaders etc to:

• Understand the stigma that surrounds mental health in the workplace
• Increase awareness of their own attitudes to mental health and illness
• Improve understanding of the way stress impacts on mental health in the workplace
• Recognise and understand some of the most common signs and symptoms of mental health conditions.
• Acquire the confidence to deal with clients or colleagues who may be experiencing mental health problems
• Apply a range of techniques to manage someone with a mental health condition
• Understand their legal requirements within the 2010 Equality Act

Course Content

Raising Awareness of Stress and Mental Health Conditions

• What is Pressure? What is Stress? 
• The effect stress has on the brain and the body (stress response)
• Signs and symptoms of acute, chronic stress and burnout
• Mental health and burnout
• Acute stress disorder

Types of Mental Health Illnesses and conditions

Each of the following illnesses and mental health conditions are discussed:

• Depression
• Major depressive episode
• Generalised anxiety disorders
• Schizophrenia (Psychosis)
• Bi-polar affective disorder
• Asperger’s syndrome

Areas of discussion:

• An overview of the specific illness
• Common signs and symptoms
• Causes
• Possible interventions/medication
• Helpful hints for managers when supporting a person with the condition
• Managing mental health emergencies

Mental Health and the Law

This section covers the main areas of legislation and the impact on businesses, including the implications of the new Equality Act 2010.

Key skills and techniques for managers managing mental health related issues

Practical solutions managers can implement and advice on how to manage conversations with people suffering from a mental health condition.

Using the CUSP™ Framework to help managers manage suspected or diagnosed mental health conditions

Personal Action Planning

“In-Equilibrium recently presented a Mental Health Awareness Training session to a group of our managers who are currently involved in managing such cases. This was exceptionally well received as it provided a lot of practical advice and useful tips on how best we can manage these individuals. We are now looking to arrange some repeat sessions in order to further enhance our knowledge”

Capgemini Course Delegate