Mental Health for You and Others Course delivered to Kirklees Council YEN
Kirklees Wellness Service delivered the 3-hour Mental Health to You and Others Course to a cohort of staff that are in the Young Employees Network (YEN) supporting their mental wellbeing. As part of Mental Health Awareness week, the Wellness Service worked with Luc Bride who is chair for the YEN to provide support for young employees to support their own mental health and provide tools for them to do this but also to have the confidence to have conversations with colleagues, members of the public, family who might be struggling with their mental health.
The course was delivered to 8 members of YEN at the Hudawi Centre on Thursday 16th May and was well received. The course entailed looking at what is mental health and perceptions associated with mental health, what good and ill mental health look like, influences on mental health and coping mechanisms, including practical breathing techniques and relaxation, mental health in others and how to support someone in crisis and resources for helping someone in crisis and is wanting support.
There was some positive feedback at the end of the course such as the best part was:
‘How to have supportive conversations – techniques for the approach.’
‘Understanding the difference between empathy and sympathy.’
‘Learning different types of anxieties and depressions.’
‘Having open discussions surrounding mental health.’
After the course the participants received a copy of the handouts so that they may go back to what was covered whenever they want as well as mental health support cards and information on suicide prevention.
