Youth Mental Health First Aid

As part of Barrow Hills’ wellbeing programme, fifteen members of staff from both Barrow Hills School and King Edward’s Witley completed their Youth Mental Health First Aid qualification during the January staff INSET. This was an internationally recognised two day course delivered by trainer Jane Cattermole, which, similar to physical First Aid, provides the non-expert with comprehensive knowledge of the signs and symptoms of mental ill-health and the confidence to intervene, both in crisis situations and in general.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is valuable in providing information on a range of mental health problems, along with reducing stigma and encouraging early intervention. MHFA does not intend to train people to become therapists, but to provide the non-expert with knowledge of the first signs and symptoms of a range of mental health problems, and the confidence to intervene when a problem is observed – in the same way that they might in physical First Aid programmes. Members of staff completed the course feeling confident and competent in supporting our children with their mental health.

Congratulations to Mrs Niki Oldroyd, Mrs Tiffany Buirski, Mr Jonjo Conway, Mr Joshua Andrade and Mr Justin Shreeve at Barrow Hills as well as Ms Sandie Titheridge, Mr Angus Macmillan, Miss Laura Sessions, Mrs Jennifer Lyttle, Mr Nick Emsley, Mr Steve Gardner, Mr Daniel Tobias, Mr Richard Davies and Mr Jim Langan at King Edward’s for gaining their Youth Mental Health First Aid qualifications.