Mental Health First Aid Training (MHFA) in Dubai and UAE

First aid isn't just for physical emergencies

Posted on

23 October 2018

| Last updated on 13 November 2018

by Rebecca Roberts

Mental Health First Aid in Dubai and UAE

All credits: PA

Talking about your mental health with family and friends can be hard. But it’s often even more difficult when it comes to work.

There’s the niggling fear your manager might think you’re not up to the job, or that your colleagues might negatively judge you for being honest and upfront about the fact you’re struggling.

Attitudes around mental health are thankfully changing, but there’s still a stigma that makes many people suffer in silence at their desk. In fact, a worrying survey by graduate recruitment app Debut in the UK, revealed that 70% of people would avoid speaking to their future employer about their mental health.

That’s why an initiative is encouraging workplaces to appoint ‘mental health first aiders’ – people who are trained to spot the signs of mental illness and step in when a person is struggling to cope.

Just like you’d expect someone to know how to treat a wound if you cut open your finger on a pair of scissors, a mental health first aider would be there to listen in a non-judgemental way and guide you to the right support.

Mental health is essential in determining how we cope and manage our day-to-day life. The workplace is the most important environment for discussing mental health, just by mere association of how much time we spend there, yet it is the last place we expect to hear about it. #mhaw

— Mental Health @ Work (@MHAW_UK) October 17, 2018

Where did the idea come from?

Physical health first aid has been a legal necessity in countries like the UK for decades, but it’s only in the past 10 years that something similar has been created for mental well being too.

The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) programme originated in Australia in 2000, and is the brainchild of Betty Kitchener, a former nurse and counsellor from Canberra.

Now, MHFA programmes have been established in 25 countries around the world, with over 2.6 million people trained globally.

While there’s currently no law to insist a workplace has to instate a mental health first aider, the concept is finally getting the attention it deserves, thanks to an increased awareness around the negative impact of stress, depression and anxiety.

Why is it important?

Not every manager will be comfortable talking about mental health. Or they might mean well, but will respond with advice that doesn’t help.

Even if they’ve never suffered with anxiety or depression first-hand, training a first aider means there’s at least one person in each office with an in-depth understanding of how poor mental health can affect you at work.

It also creates a friendly ‘open door policy’, making it easier to strike up that all-important first conversation.

Crucially, it’s also been a huge success with companies who’ve already invested in it.

Jaan Madan, workplace lead from MHFA England explains: “Organisations that use our training report improved uptake of in-house counselling services, self-help resources, and employee assistance programmes.

“This means that more people access internal as well as external support services at the earliest possible opportunity – something we know can make a huge difference in the long run.”

How does the training work?

Training usually takes place over a couple of days, and involves a mix of presentations, group discussions and workshop activities, to give you better awareness of common mental health issues.

The workshops also aim to help you understand the importance of self-care and how to better support your own mental health, so you can be there for others who need you.

As a first aider, your duties might include regularly checking in for a cup of tea and a catch up with someone who’s struggling, helping someone break down their to-do list so it’s less overwhelming, or assisting them to request time off.

As well as being on-hand to listen, you’ll also know how to spot the signs of an employee who’s on the brink of burnout, and know the essential steps to help them feel supported.

Good first day of a 2 day Mental Health First Aid course. The trainer is excellent and really knowledgeable! Looking forward to learning more tomorrow. Would highly recommend this training to any other organisation @MHatWORK pic.twitter.com/wwiajFAVXc

— Jenny Baines (@baines_jenny) October 16, 2018

Where can I get trained up?

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training is organised by clinics like The Lighthouse Center in the UAE. Reach out to them to help you organise small-scale or company-wide training programmes and packages to suit each employers specific needs.

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