Understanding mental health

Mental health issues will affect many of us over our lifetime. In the case of those with debt problems, the Royal College of Psychiatrists states that they are twice as likely to develop major depression.

1 in 2 British adults with debt issues has a mental health problem and 1 in 4 British adults with mental health issues has a debt problem.

Education forms part of the solution

At Excel, we already have a workshop and a level 3 qualification on understanding mental health. To bridge the gap between those two, we have now launched a level 2 qualification in “Understanding mental health”, which is endorsed by The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).

This course gives delegates the skills to recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues.

Who the qualification is for

The level 2 award is designed for local authorities who are identifying, assisting and evidencing vulnerability issues, as well as third sector employees and volunteers, enforcement agents, back office support management and staff welfare teams in both commercial and public organisations.

Delegates will gain an underpinning knowledge of mental health and the factors that can affect wellbeing, as well as practical skills to spot the signs and triggers of mental illness.

What the award covers

All delegates receive an “Understanding mental health” reading document and workbook to complete before the half-day course. Completion of the workbook accounts for 50% of the qualification assessment. The remaining 50% is a multiple-choice exam at the end of the course. The pass mark is 75%.

The study pack, workbook, syllabus and exam will all be available to delegates on our online learning platform (Moodle).

Level 2 “Understanding mental health” incorporates:

• Mental health problems – how debt can make you feel; what is mental capacity
• Anxiety and depression – panic attacks, bipolar disorder, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Eating disorders – anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa
• Substance use and addiction – alcohol, drugs, gambling
• Psychosis – the difference between hallucinations and delusions
• Suicide – the link with mental health disorders, triggers, discrimination
• Bereavement – the difference between grief and depression, the emotions and consequences

Mental health first aid training for our teams

Separately to our new level 2 qualification, we now have 30 qualified mental health first aiders within the business (15 in Excel and 15 in HCE Group).

This qualification developed by Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA England) focusses on employees in the workplace and helps first aiders to recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues. Support is then offered by non–judgmental conversation and guiding that person towards the right mental health professional institutions.

To find out more

If you would like to find out more about the level 2 “Understanding mental health” course and whether it is suitable for your team, please get in touch with our training team by email.

You can send delegates to our training centre in Colwyn Bay, or we can offer the training and examination at your office at a discounted rate for a group booking