Support for Mental Health First Aiders
The role of the MHFAider is sometimes misunderstood. With the best will in the world, you are not a trained counsellor or therapist, and yet, people can end up offloading and sharing more with you than you feel comfortable handling. This can result in people taking on too much of other people’s emotional baggage, which can lead to burnout.
Ultimately, MHFA is as effective and as limited in what it can achieve as traditional first aid. We do not expect traditional first aiders to take the place of paramedics, doctors, or nurses, nor should we expect MHFAiders to take the place of counsellors or therapists.
These 2-hour workshops will provide you with an opportunity to share your experiences with other MHFAiders, identify the skills you need to develop to enable you to thrive in the role provide opportunities to build your confidence as a MHFAider.
Who is it for?
Anyone who has completed the 2-day MHFAider training
Aims:
These workshops provide a dual purpose.
– To meet other Mental Health First Aiders and share current practice
– To build your confidence and abilities in the role
Outline:
Group discussion
– Share common challenges and identify routes forward. You will be encouraged to reflect on your experiences in the role, to offer support and receive support from others.
Looking after yourself in the role
– Skills development to build your skills and confidence in the role
The workshops end by developing an action plan for putting learning into practice.
Format:
The workshop is facilitated by a trained therapist who will support the group discussion and deliver training to build confidence and resilience. This is a collaborative approach to supporting Mental Health First Aiders to avoid burn out and build resilience.