Mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention training

Good mental health and resilience is the foundation of wellbeing and helps us to function effectively.

It's important to raise awareness and understanding of mental health, ways we can be resilient and know about the support that's available when needed. There are a range of training courses designed to help raise awareness of mental health challenges, health concerns and financial worries. The courses are suitable for residents, workplaces and frontline services.

Mental health

The mental health training resources have been developed to provide an understanding of mental health. Courses range from general awareness to mental health first aid.

Course	Description of training	Who should attend	Training level	Provider	Cost
Adult Mental Health First Aid - two day course	Recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues and to be able to effectively guide in the direction of appropriate support to support people with their mental wellbeing. To help people to develop skills to look after their own mental health and to reduce the stigma and discrimination.	Everyone	General awareness	Wellbeing for life Wellbeing for Life: training and awareness	Free
Basic Mental Health Awareness	Improve awareness of mental health, knowing the signs of poor mental health and how to support people to improve their mental health. Understand the difference between mental health and mental illness, identify signs and symptoms of mental health conditions. Explore the facts and myths about mental health conditions and understand the impact of stigma. Identify key resources for support.	Everyone	General awareness	Wellbeing for life Wellbeing for Life: training and awareness	Free
Building Resilience	A self-reflective interactive session which aims to identify ways to build your personal resilience; identify strengths and how to apply them; assess what you can and cannot influence; and consider support networks and self-care mechanisms.	Everyone	General awareness	Wellbeing for life Wellbeing for Life: training and awareness	Free
Mental Health Awareness for Line Managers	Identifying mental health conditions in the workplace, how to develop and support a positive culture and giving you the confidence to engage in mental health conversations.	Workplace line managers	Workplace support	Wellbeing for life Wellbeing for Life: training and awareness	Free
NUCO Level 1 Awareness of First Aid for Mental Health	This course will provide you with the knowledge to identify suspected mental health conditions and the skills to start a conversation surrounding mental health.	General awareness (18 years and over)	Level 1	County Durham Training Hub County Durham Training Hub	Check with course provider
NUCO Level 2 First Aid for	This course will provide you with the knowledge to identify suspected mental health conditions and the skills to start a conversation surrounding mental health. You will also learn about the first aid action plan for mental health and know how to implement a positive mental health culture in the workplace.	General awareness (18 years and over)	Level 2	County Durham Training Hub County Durham Training Hub	Check with course provider
NUCO Level 3 Supervisors/Leading First Aid for Mental Health	This qualification will provide you with the knowledge to recognise a wide range of mental health conditions and learn about the support/therapy provided by professional healthcare providers. You will know how to start a supportive conversation and when and how to signpost a person to seek appropriate professional help. The course includes how to recognise and manage stress and understanding the impact of substance abuse. You will also learn about the first aid action plan for mental health, be able to put it in place and know how to implement a positive mental health culture in the workplace.	General awareness (18 years and over)	Level 3	County Durham Training Hub County Durham Training Hub	Check with provider
Awareness of Mental Health Problems	This fully online course will help you gain new knowledge and skills for your personal life as well as your career. It covers lots of different mental health problems, including stress, anxiety, phobias, depression, dementia, eating disorders and schizophrenia. You'll learn about the signs and symptoms of different mental health conditions and how to manage them, as well as gaining an understanding of mental health legislation and guidance.	General awareness (19 years and over)	Level 2	Learning Curve Learning Curve	Check with provider
Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Advocacy in The Workplace	Increasing the understanding of mental health among staff at all levels builds a culture of care and support. In this fully online course, you'll build an understanding of mental health problems and the support available in the workplace. You will learn how to support individuals with their mental health, as well as what a mentally healthy environment is like.	General awareness (19 years and over)	Level 2	Learning Curve Learning Curve	Check with provider
Certificate in Awareness of Men's Mental Health Problems	The number of men who have suicidal thoughts has doubled since 2009. Although men are now more likely to see a therapist if they're feeling worried or low, there's still a long way to go to ensure that men are supported with their mental health. This online course, Awareness of Men's Mental Health Problems, covers a wide range of different mental health problems that can affect men, including depression, stress, anxiety and PTSD. You will learn about the signs, symptoms and triggers of poor mental health, as well as the differences in how some mental health conditions present themselves in men and women.	General awareness (19 years and over)	Level 2	Learning Curve Learning Curve	Check with provider
Understanding Mental Health	The Level 3 Certificate in Understanding Mental Health is designed to provide a greater awareness of mental health issues and the importance of mental well-being. Learners will build a knowledge base that can be used in a variety of occupational roles, gaining an understanding of the skills needed to work in mental health services, the importance of addressing mental health problems, and how legislation and publicity are changing attitudes towards those seeking treatment.	General awareness (19 years and over)	Level 3	Learning Curve Learning Curve	Check with provider
Understanding Anxiety	A distance learning course to help understand anxiety.	Everyone	Entry level	DurhamLearn courses	Free
Understanding Depression	A distance learning course to understanding depression.	Everyone	Entry level	DurhamLearn courses	Free
Understanding Stress	A distance learning course to understanding stress.	Everyone	Entry level	DurhamLearn courses	Free
Mental Capacity Act	A distance learning course to understanding the Mental Capacity Act.	Everyone	Entry level	DurhamLearn courses	Free
Award in Mental Health Awareness	Flexible learning, online and distance learning courses.	Everyone	General awareness	DurhamLearn courses	Free
Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems	Flexible online learning course in awareness of mental health problems.	Everyone	General awareness	DurhamLearn courses	Free
Certificate in Understanding Mental Health	An online learning course to help develop an understanding of mental health.	Everyone	General awareness	DurhamLearn courses	Free
Social Isolation Training	A brief introduction to social isolation. In 5 to 10 minutes, learn how social isolation affects mental health and how to step up and help someone who feels isolated.	Everyone (16 years +)	General awareness	Zero Suicide Alliance: training	Free

Suicide and self harm

Training courses to help raise awareness of suicide, prevention and what to do if someone you know is suicidal.

Course	Description	Who course is for	Level	Contact	Cost
Suicide awareness workshop	How to respond effectively to people experiencing thoughts of suicide comes with experience and practice. To be more confident and competent in helping to prevent the immediate risk of suicide.	Frontline staff and community groups working with the public.	General awareness	Wellbeing for Life: training and awareness	Free
safeTALK	safeTALK is a half day suicide prevention training course that can help you make a difference.Know what to do if someone's suicidal by following the easy to remember TALK steps - Tell, Ask, Listen and Keep-safe. These practical steps offer immediate help to someone having thoughts of suicide and helps you both move forward to connect with more specialised support.	Free for anyone working for a Small or Medium sized organisation (SME) and voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisation with fewer than 250 staff based in County Durham.	Half day	Let's Connect: courses	Check with course provider
Certificate in Self Harm and Suicide Awareness and Prevention	Flexible learning, online and distance learning courses.	Everyone	Level 2	DurhamLearn: Certificate in Self Harm and Suicide Awareness and Prevention	Check with course provider
Bespoke training (suicide)	If U Care Share developed training alongside young people, educators, clinicians, and professionals which is bespoke. Our training has shown it can prevent suicide, give people the confidence to intervene with someone who may be suicidal or support an individual who may have been bereaved by suicide.	Workplaces, schools, communities	Bespoke	If u care share: training	Check with course provider
Suicide awareness training	Gain skills and confidence to help someone who may be considering suicide. A 20 minute course.	Aged 16 and over	General awareness	Zero Suicide Alliance: training	Free
Managing Suicidal Contacts	This course will equip participants with the skills and confidence to manage a conversation with someone who is having thoughts of suicide or showing signs of suicidal behaviour.		One day	Samaritans: open courses	Check with course provider
Conversations with vulnerable people	This course will equip participants with the skills and confidence to have supportive and effective conversations with vulnerable people.		One day	Samaritans: open courses	Check with course provider
Building resilience and wellbeing	This course will equip participants with practical strategies to strengthen their personal resilience, enhance their wellbeing and prioritise their self-care to respond effectively to challenges in their role and environment.		One day	Samaritans: open courses	Check with course provider
Suicide awareness training - taxi driver edition	The course shares information about suicide and coaches you through a taxi driver and passenger related scenario to help you recognise signs of suicidal behaviour and have a conversation with someone.	Taxi and private hire drivers, but can be taken by anyone over the age of 16.		Zero Suicide Alliance: training	Free
Suicide Awareness Training - university student edition	This edition of our suicide awareness training has been developed specifically for university students and includes information and scenarios that are related to experiences at university.	University students, their family and friends, but can be taken by anyone over the age of 16.		Zero Suicide Alliance: training	Free
Suicide Awareness Training - veteran edition	Developed with Help for Heroes, the aim of this training is to provide you with practice in handling difficult situations where a person may be at risk of suicide. 30 minute online, interactive training course includes three conversation examples: with a loved one, a colleague and a stranger.	Veterans, their family members and friends, but can be taken by anyone aged 16 and over.		Zero Suicide Alliance: training	Free
Suicide Awareness Training - prison edition	The prison edition of suicide awareness training has been developed with support from men who have served time in prison and is based on lived experience and suicide risk in an adult male prison environment.It shares information around risk during the different stages of prison life - entry into prison, life in prison and during the transition from prison to community.	People who are currently in a male UK prison, working in UK male prison or have family and friends that are in prison, but can be taken by anyone over the age of 16.		Zero Suicide Alliance: training	Free
SPOT: Suicide Prevention Overview Tutorial	This course covers: Understanding the prevalence and impact of suicide. Explore the language, and the challenges, when talking openly about suicide. Recognise the 'signs' that may indicate someone is having thoughts of suicide. Consider how we can all contribute to a suicide-safer community.	Everyone	General awareness	Papyrus	Check with course provider
SPEAK: Suicide Prevention Explore Ask Keep Safe	An introduction to suicide prevention skills. Course covers: Consider the attitudes, myths, and stigma that surround suicide. Recognise and explore the 'signs' that may indicate someone is having thoughts of suicide. Encourage an open, safe, and sensitive conversation about suicide with a person having thoughts of suicide. Support a safety plan with someone thinking of suicide.	Everyone	General awareness	Papyrus	Check with course provider
ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training	A skills building workshop that prepares caregivers to provide suicide suicide first aid interventions. Course includes: Consider personal and societal attitudes to suicide. Learn the most widely used suicide prevention model in the world. Recognise, and act on, the signs that someone is having thoughts of suicide. Seek a shared understanding of the reasons for thoughts of suicide and identify reasons for living. Review current risk and develop a joint plan to keep someone safe from suicide, signposting for further help and community resources as needed.	Everyone	Skill development	Papyrus	Check with course provider
Autism and Suicide Awareness Training	Co-produced with people from the autistic community, the training aims to: Share information about autism and suicide risk. Share real experiences. Coach you through spotting the signs and supporting an autistic person with four different scenarios. share resources for further support.	Everyone	General awareness	Zero Suicide Alliance	Free

Money, health and supporting carers

Training courses designed to offer support for carers, money and health.

Carers

Course	Description	Who should attend	Training level	Provider	Cost
Recognising Carers - Making Every Contact Count	Carer burnout and how to avoid losing your staff and volunteers to carer fatigue.	Professionals who are members of Advice in County Durham	General Awareness	Advice in County Durham	Free
Benefits Training	introduction to benefits, Personal Independence Payment, ESA and Limited Capability for Work, Child's Disability Living Allowance and Universal Credit.	Professionals who are members of Advice in County Durham	General awareness	Advice in County Durham	Free

Health, support and recovery

Course	Description of training	Who should attend	Training level	Provider	Cost
Understanding Cognitive Behavioural Therapy	Gain an understanding of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.	People with experience of mental illness, including friends and family.	General awareness	Recovery College	Check with course provider
Exploring Obsessive Compulsive Disorder	Exploring Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.	People with experience of mental illness, including friends and family.	General awareness	Recovery College	Check with course provider
Exploring Sleep	Exploring sleep and mental health.	People with experience of mental illness, including friends and family.	General awareness	Recovery College	Check with course provider
Motivation	Understanding motivation	People with experience of mental illness, including friends and family.	General awareness	Recovery College	Check with course provider
Complementary Therapies	Exploring complementary therapies	People with experience of mental illness, including friends and family.	General awareness	Recovery College	Check with course provider
Nature and Wellbeing	Understanding nature's role in wellbeing.	People with experience of mental illness, including friends and family.	General awareness	Recovery College	Check with course provider
Mind, Body and Spirit	Exploring mind, body and spirit.	People with experience of mental illness, including friends and family.	General awareness	Recovery College	Check with course provider
Building Resilience and Wellbeing workshop	Understanding resilience and wellbeing.	People with experience of mental illness, including friends and family.	General awareness	Recovery College	Check with course provider
Understanding Eating Disorders	Develop your understanding of eating disorders.	People with experience of mental illness, including friends and family.	General awareness	DurhamLearn courses	Free
Understanding and responding to gambling harms	Free online course, understanding and responding to gambling harms: A brief guide for professionals, will teach you about gambling disorders and how to support someone affected by gambling harms.	Professionals	General awareness	Royal Society for Public Health	Check with provider
Talking About Cancer: Reducing Risk, Early Detection and Myth-busting	Find out how talking about cancer can make a real difference in helping people reduce their risk.	Professionals	General awareness	Royal Society for Public Health	Check with provider

Financial

Course	Description of training	Who should attend	Training level	Provider	Cost
Money Pension Service	Money and Pension Service provide training to money guiders which are individuals that provide any type of non-regulated money guidance to individuals or groups in the local community. The training would be useful to any staff working in voluntary and community sector organisations providing support services, housing officers, mental health workers, volunteers, etc	Volunteers, staff and community groups	General awareness	Money and Pensions Service	Free
Financial Awareness	This workshop gives an introduction to financial awareness topics that include: completing a financial audit advice on energy switching the dangers of short-term high cost credit mortgage and bank accounts financial resilience where to get money advice	Workplace	General awareness	Durham County Council Email us at publichealth@durham.gov.uk	Free

Course

Description of training

Who should attend

Training level

Provider

Cost

Money Pension Service

Money and Pension Service provide training to money guiders which are individuals that provide any type of non-regulated money guidance to individuals or groups in the local community. The training would be useful to any staff working in voluntary and community sector organisations providing support services, housing officers, mental health workers, volunteers, etc

Volunteers, staff and community groups

General awareness

Money and Pensions Service

Free

Financial Awareness

This workshop gives an introduction to financial awareness topics that include:

completing a financial audit
advice on energy switching
the dangers of short-term high cost credit
mortgage and bank accounts
financial resilience
where to get money advice

Workplace

General awareness

Durham County Council

Email us at publichealth@durham.gov.uk

Free

Online courses with Recovery College

Recovery College Online provide a range of online educational courses and resources.

Recovery College Online provide a range of online educational courses and resources to people who might be struggling with mental health issues, families, friends, mental health workers and anyone else who might be interested in learning more about mental health and wellbeing.

The free courses have been co-produced by mental health professionals and people with lived experience sharing their stories. Courses cover a variety of topics and are available for friends, family, parents, young people and work based learning.

You can view courses and sign up at Recovery College Online.