Mental Health First Aid Explored in Wales
July 29th, 2009 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Update
First aid training is a great way to add something extra to a resume, prepare for potentially dangerous situations, and to enable a greater opportunity to be of service to others, and many people have decided to participate in training workshops for these benefits. But mental health first aid is a less popular prospect, in part owing to the relative novelty of the idea. Recently, a charity organization in Wales has developed a specialized course for businesspeople interested in bringing the concept of first aid to the mental health arena.
The program, largely designed to help professionals in supervisory roles learn about mental health and possible related challenges in the workplace, has been delivering basic knowledge about the field of psychology to participants for many months. The charity notes that while traditional first aid training is commonly found in office and other professional environments, the ability to understand and effectively interact within the context of mental health concerns is usually lacking. The program hopes to help those in management positions be prepared for potentially stressful situations, such as changes in work, disciplinary action, and other aspects of professional life that can leave some employees feeling less than enthusiastic about their jobs.
The program also hopes to create positive change in the workplace, empowering supervisors to facilitate programs and foster environments that are more conducive to happy employees. Through bringing some of the basic benefits of positive psychology to the the workplace, the first aid program promises to help Welsh workers achieve a greater well-being on the job, as well as educate much of the public about the core concepts of mental and emotional health.
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5 comments so far
i think there are numerous programs like this in many us corporations.., but i like how this one focuses on positive psych rather than a blame and shame model
My biggest concern is that now are mental health issues going to be totally turned over to people who have very little experience in this area? That would not be a very good idea at all.
There are many fears that one should have about programs like this, and one of the biggest ones is that now even your employers are going to have greater access to things going on in your personal life. Am I the only one who thinks that this is a bad thing? Surely not. There is a time and a place to share everything- I am aware of that. But there are some employers who are not going to look so kindly on these needs and it could end up costing you your job. Not fair but there are people who think like that and would not be so fair to those who sought to use the services.
I agree with Lisa. I dont think I would want my boss to know any of my needs. This wont work for people in smaller organizations or ones where HR is not really good and structured.
More negatives in this matter than positives, I think. Typically call centers and stock brokerage firms could be highly stressful jobs where the employees may face problems that have no time to solve. I dont think this would work on a continued basis.