First Aid for Mental Health – Supervising (2-Day Course)

First Aid for Mental Health – Supervising (2-Day Course)
This two-day qualification is designed for supervisors, managers, and team leaders who have responsibility for staff wellbeing and want the skills, confidence, and framework to respond appropriately to mental health concerns in the workplace.

Poor mental health culture carries a significant cost to organisations, contributing to increased sickness absence, reduced productivity, higher staff turnover, and avoidable conflict or escalation. This course supports organisations to move beyond reactive responses by equipping supervisors with the knowledge and practical tools to recognise concerns early, respond appropriately, and support staff before issues become crises.

The course provides an understanding of mental health and mental illness, including how to recognise common conditions such as anxiety, depression, stress-related illness, substance misuse (drug and alcohol), bipolar disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, psychosis, and mental health crisis situations. Participants learn how to recognise early warning signs, approach sensitive conversations with confidence, and offer appropriate first-line support while maintaining clear professional boundaries.

Training is delivered online by an experienced NHS doctor with extensive clinical experience in mental health care, including frontline work supporting people presenting to A&E in suicidal crisis and the daily management of common mental health conditions in general practice. The course uses realistic, experience-led scenarios for discussion, drawing on clinical insight into how mental health concerns present in real life rather than how they are described in theory. Participants receive practical, evidence-based guidance on how to begin conversations about mental health, including how to ask the most difficult questions around self-harm and suicide with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

The course also explicitly addresses common communication pitfalls and unintentional harms — such as minimising language (“at least…”, “look on the bright side”) or dismissive phrases (“it’s all in your head”) — and helps supervisors develop safer, more supportive ways of responding that reduce distress rather than amplifying it.

A strong emphasis is placed on the role of supervision and leadership. The course explores how management practices, workload, communication, and workplace culture influence mental health, and supports supervisors to balance compassion with responsibility — protecting both individuals and organisational function.
This qualification is ideal for organisations seeking a proactive, responsible approach to mental health — supporting staff wellbeing while reducing business risk and promoting a healthier, more sustainable working environment.
The course is delivered in association with NUCO Training, is Ofqual-regulated, HSE-compliant and provides a recognised qualification in First Aid for Mental Health at Supervising level.

Training is usually delivered online but can also be delivered in person upon request, either on-site or at a provided venue. Group discounts are available. Please contact us at: [email protected]