Mental health and suicide prevention training available in Oxfordshire
Professionals and volunteers in Oxfordshire who work with the public can now benefit from a suite of free mental health and suicide prevention training courses.
The training is being delivered by Oxfordshire Mind on behalf of the county council. It is needs led, informed by local data and insight, and prioritised for those who have the most contact with those most vulnerable.
It will also be developed and tailored to complement the countywide efforts to support better mental health.
Councillor Nathan Ley, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety, said: “It is great we’ve been able to commission Oxfordshire Mind to deliver these free training opportunities for professionals and volunteers.
“I hope that the training helps us to better support those facing mental health crises in the county and help us to build a more resilient and compassionate society for all.”
The sessions are designed to equip professionals and volunteers with the knowledge and skills necessary to support individuals in crisis effectively. It is offered to small organisations who are unable to fund mental health and suicide prevention training.
Working alongside the council’s public health team, Oxfordshire Mind has prioritised several groups who have been shown to be facing the greatest inequalities.
These groups have made excellent progress over the first three months of contact with professionals.
Marcus Hills, Programme Manager at Oxfordshire Mind, said: “We are excited to collaborate with Oxfordshire County Council with the launch of these training courses. This marks a significant step forward in our collective efforts to improve mental health support in Oxfordshire. By equipping professionals and volunteers with the necessary skills and knowledge, we are ensuring that those in crisis receive the compassionate and effective help they need.”
The contract is made up of five training courses, including:
- mental health awareness
- suicide first aid
- youth mental health first aid
- youth mental health first aid champion training
- SP-EAK suicide prevention training.
Find out more about the courses, including eligibility, by visiting Oxfordshire Mind’s website, or by contacting trainingcourses@oxfordshiremind.org.uk.
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