Mental health training can cover a range of topics and be offered in different ways, like courses, workshops, webinars, or one-off sessions.

From mental health awareness sessions and Mental Health First Aid qualifications to resilience and wellbeing workshops or suicide prevention training for frontline workers – it can sometimes be hard to find the right course for you or your team.

This guide can help you find the right training by giving an overview of:

  • the types of mental health training available
  • who might benefit
  • what to expect
  • how much it could cost
General mental health awareness

This type of training is for employees, volunteers, or managers to increase their knowledge of mental health. It could help you or your team understand:

  • common mental health issues
  • how to challenge stigma
  • how to look after your own mental wellbeing

 


Leeds Mind – Mental health awareness

Offering mental health awareness training which is useful for anyone wanting to increase their knowledge of mental health. It includes:

  • exploring your understanding of ‘mental health’
  • exploring stigma and the mental health continuum
  • recognising signs and symptoms of mental ill health
  • comparing different models of mental health
  • the Stress Vulnerability Model
  • helping increase knowledge and skill in having a conversation about mental health

The course is available as open access for individuals to book on

  • Duration: half-day
  • Cost: £95 per person on open access (some discounts available)

Or an organisation can book a group session:

 


Mental Health UK – Mental Health Awareness

This course aims to shift the perspective on mental health and help delegates understand the impact they can have on people affected by mental health problems and
how they can help. It includes:

  • what wellbeing looks like for you and ways to proactively look after it
  • explaining mental health as something we all have and evaluating the impact of stigma on society’s attitudes to mental health
  • common and less common mental illnesses and their possible signs and symptoms
  • practical ways you can challenge stigma
  • how to have a supportive conversation with a colleague who is experiencing poor mental health

Duration: 3.5 hours online or 4 hours in person

Cost: for a quote contact the Training Team: email training@mentalhealth-uk.org or
call 0333 222 5878

 


MHFA England – Become Mental Health Aware

This introductory online or face-to-face course gives people:

  • an understanding of what mental health is and how to challenge stigma
  • a basic knowledge of some common mental health issues
  • an introduction to looking after your own mental health and maintaining wellbeing
  • confidence to support someone in distress or who may be experiencing a problem with their mental health

Costs may vary depending on location and instructor.

Duration: half-day

Cost: around £125 per person

 


NHS England eLFH (elearning for healthcare professionals)

Mental Health Awareness Programme

This short programme aims to raise mental health awareness amongst healthcare staff. It is designed to give a broad overview of:

  • what encompasses mental illness
  • the link between mental and physical health diagnoses
  • outline some possible treatment options

These sessions provide all staff working within health care with some general strategies to help support individuals who are worried about their mental health, and advice about where to find extra support. It is a collection of several smaller projects, that cover:

  • perinatal mental health
  • mental health in Emergency Medicine
  • mental health awareness for healthcare professionals
  • mental health awareness for GPs
  • mental health for Practice Nurses

In order to access the Mental Health Awareness programme, you will need an elfh account or you can access it via your Electronic Staff Record (ESR).

Duration: varies by profession, could be four or five 20 to 30 minute sessions

Cost: free to NHS health and care staff, who will have an eLFH account for their training, or free to people who don’t work for the NHS but qualify for free access via the OpenAthens portal.

 


Rethink – Mental Health Awareness

Designed and delivered by people living with mental illness. The course covers:

  • stigma and discrimination
  • the challenges people face
  • how to discuss mental health with a colleague, friend or family member

The training is for everyone.

Duration: 3.5 hours including short breaks

Cost: contact the training team: email training@rethink.org or call 0333 222 5878

Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognised qualification. The course teaches you how to:

  • identify, understand and help someone who may be experiencing a problem with their mental health
  • listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis – and even potentially stop a crisis from happening
  • empower someone to access the support they might need for recovery or successful management of symptoms
  • recognise warning signs of mental ill health, and develop the skills and confidence to approach and support someone while keeping yourself safe.

Some courses are intended to help you support adults or young people specifically.

 


Being You Leeds – Mental Health First Aid

This course qualifies you as a Mental Health First Aider and is available for third-sector frontline workers and volunteers in Leeds The course will give you:

  • an in-depth understanding of mental health and the factors that can affect wellbeing
  • practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues
  • confidence to step in, reassure and support a person in distress
  • enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening
  • knowledge to help someone recover their health by guiding them to further support

Duration: 2 days or 4 half-days

Cost: free to all frontline workers in Leeds, including volunteers and peer mentors

See dates on the Being You Leeds pages on MindWell

 


Community Links – Mental Health First Aid

Participants will be given an in-depth understanding of:

  • mental health
  • factors that can affect wellbeing
  • how to support a person in distress
  • how to guide individuals to further support

Duration: 2 days

Cost: free for frontline workers and volunteers of community organisations, charities and non-profit organisations working with people in the most deprived areas of Leeds, supporting socially excluded groups with the worst health outcomes.

 


Inspire North/Community Links – Youth Mental Health First Aid

An internationally recognised two-day course specifically designed for those people who teach, work, live with or care for young people aged 11 – 18. This course teaches participants how to spot the early warning signs and symptoms of mental ill-health in young people.

It provides information about topics such as:

  • anxiety
  • depression
  • self-harm
  • eating disorders
  • alcohol and drug use
  • the impact that mental ill-health in young people can have on adolescent development.

The practical, skills-based approach helps participants gain the confidence to offer meaningful support to young people in distress.

Duration: 2 days

Cost: £150 or a discounted price of £1800 for 16 people max.

 


Leeds for Learning – Youth Mental Health First Aid

One in ten young people experience mental health issues at any given time, with suicide sadly the leading cause of death for ages 5-19. Academic pressure, social media, bullying, poverty, and limited access to mental health support all play a role in the mental health crisis affecting our young people – challenges that have only been heightened by the impact of Covid-19. The courses are for anyone who works with, lives with or supports young people aged 8-18yrs.

Duration: 2 days

Cost: £180 per delegate for settings that have an SLA with the Health & Wellbeing Service.
£230 for settings with no current Health & Wellbeing Service SLA.

They can also deliver a bespoke course at your venue if you wish to train up to 16 participants at once, at a cost of £1600 (representing a cost of £100 per delegate on a full course).

 


Leeds Mind – Mental Health First Aid

This internationally recognised course enables delegates to become a Mental Health First Aider in the workplace. You will gain:

  • a deeper understanding of mental health and factors that affect people’s wellbeing
  • Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues
  • the confidence to step in and support someone and guide them towards appropriate support.

You will also learn to be mindful of your own wellbeing.

Duration: 2 Days

Cost: £325

 


Mental Health UK – Mental Health First Aid England’s MHFA (adult and youth)

MHFA is designed and accredited by Mental Health First Aid England (MHFAE) who also train and quality-assure their trainers. Mental Health UK works with MHFA trainers to provide this training in various versions and formats including both the Adult and Youth versions.

The course will help you to:

  • recognise when people are experiencing poor mental health
  • provide first-level support and early intervention
  • encourage people to identify and access sources of professional help and other support
  • set boundaries and practise confidentiality
  • practise self-care

Courses can be online or face-to-face.

Duration: varies

Cost: for a quote contact the Training Team: email training@mentalhealth-uk.org or
call 0333 222 5878

 


MHFA England – Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

As a Mental Health First Aider you will be able to:

  • recognise those that may be experiencing poor mental health and provide them with first-level support and early intervention
  • encourage a person to identify and access sources of professional help and other supports
  • practise active listening and empathy
  • have a conversation with improved mental health literacy around language and stigma
  • Discuss the MHFAider role in depth, including boundaries and confidentiality
  • practise self-care
  • know how to use the MHFAider Support App®
  • know how to access a dedicated text service provided by Shout and ongoing learning opportunities with MHFA England

Duration: online or face-to-face course structured across four flexible sessions. Each session is a maximum of 3 hours 45 minutes and sessions can be delivered within a 2 week period. There are 14 hours of content in total.​

Cost: the course is valued at £325 per person, but may vary due to trainer and venue.

 


Mind Matters – Mental Health First Aid

Mind Matters offers the full range of Mental Health First Aid England licensed MHFA courses, including MHFA Adult and MHDA Youth courses.

As an MHFAider you will be able to:

  • recognise those that may be experiencing poor mental health and provide them with first-level support and early intervention
  • encourage a person to identify and access sources of professional help and other supports
  • practise active listening and empathy
  • have a conversation with improved mental health literacy around language and stigma
  • discuss the MHFAider role in depth, including boundaries and confidentiality
  • practise self-care
  • know how to use the MHFAider Support App®
  • know how to access a dedicated text service provided by Shout and ongoing learning opportunities with MHFA England

Duration: Courses are online or face-to-face, structured across four flexible sessions. Each session is a maximum of 3 hours 45 minutes and sessions can be delivered within a 2 week period.

Cost: £230 + VAT per delegate

 


Rethink – Mental Health First Aid

This course is ideal for individuals who would like to gain the knowledge and skills to spot signs of people experiencing poor mental health, be confident starting a conversation, and signpost a person to appropriate support.​ Rethink runs MHFA Adult and MHFA Youth courses.

As an MHFAider you will be able to:

  • recognise those that may be experiencing poor mental health and provide them with first-level support and early intervention
  • encourage a person to identify and access sources of professional help and other supports
  • practise active listening and empathy
  • have a conversation with improved mental health literacy around language and stigma
  • discuss the MHFAider role in depth, including boundaries and confidentiality
  • practise self-care
  • know how to use the MHFAider Support App®
  • know how to access a dedicated text service provided by Shout and ongoing learning opportunities with MHFA England

Duration: Online or face-to-face course structured across four flexible sessions. Each session is a maximum of 3 hours 45 minutes and sessions can be delivered within a 2 week period. Learners will be trained over four live sessions with an MHFA England Instructor Member, covering 14 hours of content in total.​

Cost: Contact their training team by emailing training@rethink.org or call 0333 222 5878.

Training for managers and workplace Mental Health Champions

Skills for managers training courses can help managers support staff experiencing mental health difficulties such as stress, anxiety and depression.

 


ACAS – Mental health in the workplace

Practical skills to enable managers to confidently and effectively promote and support positive mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Delegates attending this event will gain an understanding of what impacts mental health and wellbeing, as well as specific mental ill health conditions. They will learn how to effectively engage with staff at an early stage and gain practical knowledge of carrying out wellbeing conversations.

Duration: online via Zoom, two 3-hour webinars over two consecutive days

Cost: £295.00 per person, VAT exempt

 


Leeds Mind – Skills for Managers

Leeds Mind provides a range of mental health training, focusing on sharing practical strategies for positive communication and enhancing workplace wellbeing.

Find out about Open Access courses or download their Workplace Mental Health training brochure

Supporting and managing staff with stress, anxiety, and depression. This training focuses on practical suggestions and tools and is useful for anyone who manages or supports staff with mental health difficulties.

Topics include:

  • the business case for managing mental health at work
  • demystifying and understanding the term ‘mental health’
  • recognising signs and symptoms of mental ill health
  • strategies for communicating effectively with staff who may be experiencing
    mental distress
  • signposting staff to relevant support and services
  • identifying and applying reasonable adjustments in relation to mental health
  • good practice for absence management in relation to mental health

Duration: 1 day in person or 2 half-days online

Cost: £125

 


Mental Health UK – Mental health for managers

This course aims to change approaches to mental health in the workplace. It equips people managers to respond appropriately and confidently to stress and poor mental health at work, acting in line with relevant legislation.

Modules include:

  • your wellbeing
  • what is mental health?
  • what is mental illness?
  • mental illness in the workplace: how can managers respond?
  • supportive conversations

Duration: 3.5 hours online or 4 hours in person

Cost: for a quote contact the Training Team by emailing training@mentalhealth-uk.org or
call 0333 222 5878

 


Rethink – Mental health in the workplace for managers

Designed and delivered by people with lived experience of mental illness, this mental health in the workplace training introduces employers and employees to the stigma and discrimination people living with mental illness face, as well as introducing a range of tools to support colleagues in their workplace who might have their own mental health concerns.

This course is aimed at anyone who may support colleagues in the workplace in relation to their mental health, particularly employees with people-management responsibilities. It includes:

  • your wellbeing
  • what is mental health?
  • what is mental illness?
  • management tools
  • how to have a supportive conversation with someone about their mental health, in a workplace context

Duration: 3.5 hours including short breaks.

Cost: Contact their training team: email training@rethink.org or call 0333 222 5878.

 


Mental Health Champion training

Mental Health Champions are employees within an organisation who, alongside their usual roles, raise awareness of mental health and mental illness in various creative ways.

 


Mental Health UK – Mental Health Champion 

Modules include:

  • What is a Champion?
  • Your wellbeing
  • What is mental health?
  • What is mental illness?
  • Supportive conversations
  • Stigma and discrimination
  • Action planning

Duration: 3.5 hours online or 4 hours in person

Cost: for a quote contact the Training Team: email training@mentalhealth-uk.org or
call 0333 222 5878

 


MHFA England – MHFA Champion

This course is available online or through a face-to-face training session. It will give you:

  • an understanding of common mental health issues
  • knowledge and confidence to advocate for mental health awareness
  • ability to spot signs of mental ill health
  • skills to support positive wellbeing

Duration: 1 day​, delivered either face-to-face or online

Cost: They value this course at £200 per person, but costs may vary depending on location and instructor.

 


Mind Matters – Champion training

Champion training will help you develop:

  • an understanding of common mental health issues
  • knowledge and confidence to advocate for mental health awareness
  • the ability to spot signs of mental ill health
  • skills to support positive wellbeing

Duration: 1 day

Cost: £180 + VAT per delegate, but a 5% discount is available to students, volunteers, third-sector organisations, and bookings of more than one place (or course).

 


Rethink – Mental Health Champion

Mental Health Champions are employees within your organisation who, alongside their usual roles, raise awareness of mental health and mental illness in various creative ways. The modules covered are:

  • What is a Champion?
  • Your wellbeing
  • What is mental health?
  • What is mental illness?
  • Support conversations
  • Stigma and discrimination
  • Action planning

Duration: 3.5 hours including short breaks.

Cost: Contact their training team by emailing training@rethink.org or call 0333 222 5878.

 


Check-in campaign

The ‘Check-in‘ campaign aims to reduce staff suicide and promote a wellbeing culture by normalising the conversation around suicide and mental health as well as providing training, resources and signposting to support.

You can find out more about the campaign on the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership website. The campaign is accessible by all colleagues working and volunteering in your organisation.

Duration: varies – the website has links to resources, training and the campaign toolkit,

Cost: free

Suicide awareness and suicide prevention

Training that addresses suicide prevention, intervention, and handling crises. It can help you know what to do if you’re ever in a situation where someone you know or see may be struggling with thoughts of suicide.

 


Leeds Mind – A Life Worth Living

The course helps to increase your confidence, skills and knowledge, to help you offer support and information to a potentially suicidal person, which could prove life-saving. It includes:

  • how to be able to identify ‘a life worth living’ and build confidence, skills and knowledge to offer support and information to a potentially suicidal person
  • how to signpost to local services and access the relevant pathway of support

Duration: 4 hours

Cost: £95 for individuals, discounts available for VCSE organisations, as well as Mindful Employer network members, and corporates that are already working with Leeds Mind. Contact training@leedsmind.org.uk for more details.

 


Zero Suicide Alliance

A short, online course that can be taken by anyone aged 16 and over who wants to learn basic suicide awareness and prevention skills. The training will take you through:

  • suicide risk factors
  • suicide warning signs
  • coached scenarios sharing approaches for how you can talk to someone you’re worried about
  • videos from people sharing real experiences
  • where to find information about available support

Duration: 30 minutes

Cost: free

 


Mental Health UK – Suicide Awareness

This course aims to challenge stigma surrounding suicide. It also helps you be more confident having conversations about suicide with others as well as supporting people who are suicidal. Modules include:

  • looking after yourself
  • suicide and stigma
  • spotting the signs
  • having a safe conversation

Duration: 4 hours plus breaks, remotely and in-person

Cost: for a quote contact the Training Team by emailing training@mentalhealth-uk.org or
call 0333 222 5878

 


Rethink – Suicide Awareness Training

This training course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to better understand the topic of suicide and spot any warning signs of suicide, as well as to feel more confident in how to support yourself and hold a safe conversation with someone who is having thoughts of suicide.

Modules included are:

  • how to look after yourself
  • the stigma associated with suicide and how we can challenge this
  • warning signs of suicide
  • how to hold a safe conversation with someone who is having thoughts of suicide

Duration: 4 hours, plus a one-hour break, either online course or face-to-face.

Cost: Contact their training team by emailing training@rethink.org or call 0333 222 5878.

 


Being You Leeds

Being You Leeds runs mental health training to educate others on mental health and how to best support people struggling with their mental health. It’s open to people who work and volunteer in third-sector support services and want to learn how to better support people struggling with their mental health. Full details on how to book on the MindWell website.

SafeTALK

Suitable for anyone who may come into contact with individuals at risk of suicide, either at work or in their personal life. It will help you to:

  • recognise those who may be at risk of suicide
  • ask individuals clearly and openly about their thoughts of suicide
  • connect individuals at risk to local sources of help

This course is offered by Being You Leeds with Community Links training.

Duration: 1 day

Cost: Free for third-sector organisations and community groups in Leeds

 

ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)

ASIST teaches Suicide First Aid skills to raise confidence and knowledge and to familiarise participants with the most widely used suicide intervention model in the world.

Course participants will learn to:

  • recognise invitations for help
  • reach out and offer support
  • review the risk of suicide
  • apply a suicide intervention model
  • link people with community resources

Recognised by the Department of Health, ASIST is fast becoming an essential tool for all
community caregivers. The course aims to break down stereotypes and misinformation about suicide and gives participants an evidence-based approach to those at risk. Participants will have a chance to analyse their own views about suicide, they will be
introduced to the intervention model and given opportunities to observe and practise skills in
effective suicide intervention.

Duration: 2 days

Cost: The ASIST course is free when funded through Being You Leeds. To be eligible, you must work or volunteer for a community organisation, charity or non-profit organisation
working within the most deprived areas of Leeds, or an organisation supporting socially excluded groups and communities with the worst health outcomes. Postcode areas that qualify for a place on this training are LS7, LS8, LS9, LS10, LS11, LS12, LS13, LS14.

 


Community Links

If you aren’t eligible for courses through Being You Leeds, you can still access the training through Community Links.

 

SafeTALK

Suitable for anyone who may come into contact with individuals at risk of suicide, either at work or in their personal life. It will help you to:

  • recognise those who may be at risk of suicide
  • ask individuals clearly and openly about their thoughts of suicide
  • connect individuals at risk to local sources of help

Duration: 1 day

Cost: £99

 

ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)

ASIST teaches Suicide First Aid skills to raise confidence and knowledge and to familiarise participants with the most widely used suicide intervention model in the world.

Course participants will learn to:

  • recognise invitations for help.
  • reach out and offer support.
  • review the risk of suicide.
  • apply a suicide intervention model.
  • link people with community resources.

Recognised by the Department of Health, ASIST is fast becoming an essential tool for all
community caregivers. The course that aims to break down stereotypes and misinformation about suicide and gives participants an evidence-based approach to those at risk. Participants will have a chance to analyse their own views about suicide, they will be
introduced to the intervention model and given opportunities to observe and practise skills in
effective suicide intervention.

Duration: 2 days

Cost: £199

 


Samaritans – Managing suicidal conversations

This course is suitable for anyone whose position may bring them into contact with people who have suicidal thoughts, providing them with the knowledge and skills to support an individual.

At the end of this course you will be able to:

  • appreciate the profile of suicide in the UK
  • understand the background factors and feelings that can lead to suicidal thoughts
  • recognise direct and indirect signs of suicidal ideation
  • develop skills to manage a suicidal conversation sensitively and effectively
  • explore strategies to assess and respond to risk
  • know how and where to signpost to sources of additional support

Duration: 1 day, delivered online via Zoom

Cost: £264

 


Other suicide prevention training

You can explore more suicide prevention training on the West Yorkshire Suicide Prevention website, including national and local providers, short online sessions and training tailored to students or veterans.

Related training

More comprehensive courses for those seeking in-depth knowledge or who are in specialist roles.


Humans Being – Switch on to Women’s Safety (Train the Trainer)

Learn how to run ‘active bystander’ workshops for men. The Switch on to Women’s Safety workshop supports men to understand women’s experiences and find practical tools, ideas and solutions to do something about it while keeping themselves safe.

The session will give you the knowledge, confidence and resources you need to run a ‘Switch On’ active bystander workshop. So if you’re a Leeds-based trainer or leader with a cohort of male staff, volunteers, learners or service users, get in touch with Simon: email  simonc@touchstonesupport.org.uk

Duration: half-day

Cost: free

 


Forward Leeds – Alcohol and Mental Health Awareness

The course aims to build your knowledge and skills around how even relatively low levels of alcohol use can have an impact on mental health. It will cover:

  • alcohol units and why they matter
  • how alcohol alters the brain and disrupts the brain’s chemicals
  • alcohol and memory
  • alcohol, stress and anxiety
  • alcohol and sleep
  • alcohol and links to self-harm and suicide.
  • harm reduction around alcohol use

The course is run online via MS Teams or in-person.

Duration: 3 hours

Cost: free

 


Solace Leeds – Understanding Factors Impacting Wellbeing in Asylum Seekers and Refugees

This training is for anyone working in Leeds, West Yorkshire in the mental health field who would like to understand more about refugees and asylum seekers and specifically how to support them better. You will learn to:

  • understand how to communicate about emotional and mental wellbeing
  • understand how trauma symptoms may present in people
  • learn techniques to work with traumatised people

Duration: 2 hours 45 minutes

Cost: free – the course is funded by Leeds NHS for the benefit of people living in Leeds, so your organisation must be based in Leeds to register a place.

 


Battle Scars – Self-harm training for professionals

Providing deep insights into self-harm resulting in better understanding and becoming better equipped to support someone who self-harms.

Workshop

An in-depth, fully interactive session catering to different learning styles and plenty of opportunities for discussion, which includes:

  • exploring the complexity of self-harm
  • dispelling some of the common myths
  • methods of self-harm and different presentations depending on the person’s age
  • self-harm and autism
  • roots of self-harming behaviour, including triggers
  • how people feel through different self-harm stages
  • building healthier strategies
  • how to provide effective support
  • the relationship between self-harm and suicide

Duration: 1 day

Cost: available as group bookings or individually, online or in-person,  so prices vary from £75 per person to £750 for a group of 6 to 15 people (doesn’t include room hire, refreshments or travel costs).

 

Question and Answer-style session

This session is ideal for those with limited time and/or budget and a good way to lay a good foundation of knowledge and understanding. It can focus on your questions and needs, including:

  • exploring the complexity of self-harm
  • dispelling some of the common myths

Duration: 2 hours

Cost: Private group booking of 6 to 20 people: online £30 per person, in-person £300 (doesn’t include room hire, refreshments or travel costs). Individual booking (running every few months) online £30 per person.

 


Community Links – Drug and Alcohol Awareness

An introductory drug and alcohol use awareness course aimed at those who come into contact with people who have difficulties around drug and alcohol use.

At the end of the course participants will be able to:

  • be aware of the current legal framework and trends in drug and alcohol use
  • identify different categories of psychoactive substances
  • understand the physical and psychological effects of drugs and alcohol use
  • understand the cycle of change and treatment goals for substance misuse
  • consider a range of brief interventions to support problematic drug and alcohol use

By the end of the training you will feel more confident in discussing these issues with clients and be able to make more appropriate referrals to specialist services.

Duration: 1 day

Cost: £99

 


Battle Scars – Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating

For professionals, the training will offer deep insights into eating disorders/disordered resulting in better understanding and practical suggestions to support someone who struggles with eating distress. ​It includes:

  • the complexity and variety of eating disorders and disordered eating patterns
  • different diagnoses and the importance of looking beyond them
  • roots of eating disorders and disordered eating
  • difference between eating disorders and disordered eating
  • dispelling some of the common myths
  • spotting the signs
  • practical tips in supporting people with eating distress

Duration: 4 hours

Cost: available as group bookings or individually, online or in-person,  so prices vary from £55 per person to £550 for a group of 6 to 15 people (doesn’t include room hire, refreshments or travel costs).

 


Making Every Contact Count training

Making Every Contact Count (MECC) encourages a consistent approach to having healthy conversations. It recognises that staff across health and care, local authority and voluntary sectors have thousands of contacts every day with individuals and are ideally placed to have conversations that signpost and support health and wellbeing and lifestyle changes. Anyone can have a MECC conversation; you don’t need to be a clinical professional to empower someone to make a change for the better.

 


Leeds City Council

Bespoke training for teams of at least 10 people, delivered by knowledgeable Public Health specialists in a participatory learning style and is aligned with the council’s ‘working with’ approach.

Duration: between two and three hours

Cost: free for public sector and third sector organisations

If you are part of a team that works or volunteers in Leeds and would benefit from having MECC training delivered as a team, email phforall@leeds.gov.uk for further information on how to arrange this.

 


NHS England

NHS England provides a free MECC e-learning programme and toolkit, designed to support learners in developing an understanding of public health and the factors that impact a person’s health and wellbeing. It is MECC e-learning training and a toolkit intended for anyone interested in supporting people to improve their health and wellbeing, not just those working in health and social care.

Duration: three online modules, plus one optional learning module and toolkit

Cost: If you do not require a certificate, the Making Every Contact Count programme is freely available to access without having to register, from the NHS England website. If you do require a certificate, it’s free to NHS health and care staff, who will have an eLFH account for their training, or free to people who don’t work for the NHS but qualify for free access via the OpenAthens portal.

 


Health and Wellbeing Leeds Training Programme

Open to all those whose work involves improving the health and wellbeing of people and communities in Leeds. The course covers the elements and theory of public health, enabling you to understand and deliver the challenging public health agenda.

Workshops include:

  • Public health: past, present and future
  • What does partnership working mean?
  • How to understand information and interpret data
  • Working with communities
  • How to effect change
  • Evaluation

Duration: The course runs over eight months, with a half-day session each month.

Cost: Places are available for only £80 per person for the whole programme.

Wellbeing and resilience for staff and volunteers

This type of training focuses on building resilience and promoting personal wellbeing to prevent burnout and improve overall mental health. It could:

  • help people look after their own mental health and wellbeing
  • be useful for those who have experienced problems with their mental wellbeing and want to stay well
  • support those who are in Mental Health Champion, Mental Health First Aider or manager roles, or work on the health and care front line, who want to ensure they stay well when they’re supporting others

 


Humans Being

Humans Being runs a range of workshops and courses to help support your volunteers, service users and staff.

Mentally Healthy Workspaces

As individuals, we can all contribute to creating more mentally healthy workplaces by understanding how to manage and improve our own mental wellbeing, and of course, help each other to feel better about ourselves in our work environment.

Duration: Full day or Half day

Cost: £700 full day, £300 half day.

 

Peer Mentoring and Peer Support Skills
Enabling staff to support their peers can be hugely empowering and effective, unlocking hidden strengths and building confidence and skills. The sessions and programmes use tried-and-tested techniques for helping peer mentoring schemes run smoothly, building confidence, and looking after the wellbeing of participants.

Duration: Full day and 2 half days

Cost: £1400

 


Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service (LMWS)

Overcoming stress

This course focuses on helping you to reduce and manage symptoms of anxiety and depression. It teaches a variety of strategies to help you challenge unhelpful thoughts, improve your sleep and boost your wellbeing.

Duration: 2 hours per week over 6 weeks (online, evenings)

Cost: LMWS courses are free to people aged 18 and over who are registered with a Leeds GP.

 


Leeds Recovery College

A range of courses and workshops to help you manage your wellbeing, including relaxation, WRAP and mindfulness. There are sessions for the community and all Leeds Health and Care Staff.

Wellbeing Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)

WRAP is a plan that you develop for yourself and helps you think about living well. The process supports you to identify the tools that keep you well and create action plans to put them into practice in your everyday life.

Duration: 2 hours a week for 8 or 10 weeks

Cost: Free community courses available to adults (18 and over) who live, work or study in Leeds

Explore the range of community courses and 1-hour sessions

Explore retreats and workshops or 1-hour sessions for Health and Care staff

 


Leeds Mind – Employee resilience and wellbeing

A range of workshops and courses to help people take better care of their mental wellbeing, manage common problems like anxiety and stress and be well at work. Leeds Mind can also design bespoke training for individual employers.

Duration: Building Resilience and Understanding and Managing Stress workshops are 3 hours each. Bitesize courses are an hour each,

Cost: contact Leeds Mind Training for details email training@leedsmind.org.uk or call 0113 305 5800

 


Mental Health UK – Bite-sized courses

A variety of wellbeing-related topics, including managing stress, an introduction to resilience skills and wellbeing for key workers. Can be online or face-to-face.

Duration: modules last 50 minutes.

Cost: for a quote, email training@mentalhealth-uk.org or call 0333 222 5878.

 


Oblong – Headspace

Learn techniques for relaxation, coping with stress and positive thinking. Find your strengths, meet new people and get new perspectives.

It’s for anyone who wants to build up their confidence and find better ways to deal with stress. Headspace isn’t therapy, it’s about trying out ideas for yourself and choosing the ones that work best for you.

Duration: 2 hours per week for 7 weeks

Cost: Free

 


Phoenix Health and Wellbeing – Workplace Wellbeing service

Leeds social enterprise which offers a workplace wellbeing service including stress management workshops, a confidential counselling service and workplace massage.

Duration of stress management workshops: up to 40 minutes. They are often booked as part of wellbeing weeks or as part of staff training

Cost: prices start at £350 per workshop. Contact them for more details: email info@phoenixhealthandwellbeing.org.uk or call 0113 234 0818

 


Rethink – Mental Health Training

Training to help build employees’ personal resilience and cope better with life and work challenges. Webinars are on a range of topics including managing stress and resilience skills.

Duration: 50 minutes

Cost: For a quote email training@rethink.org or call 0333 222 5878

 


Samaritans – Wellbeing in the Workplace online learning

An online learning programme which brings Samaritans’ listening and wellbeing expertise into the workplace. It teaches employees the skills to look after their emotional health and look out for others before they reach crisis point.

Duration: The online training takes around 90 minutes to complete and it’s split into 10-minute sections, making it easy to dip in and out.

Cost: Wellbeing in the Workplace is free to access by registering at samaritans.org/wellbeingintheworkplace. There’s also the option for companies to purchase the tool for a one-off fee of £10k, meaning they can own and personalise the tool.

There are also the Samaritans Training and Engagement Programmes for employers, which have a variety of 1-day or half-day online courses, prices vary.