MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA) – This twelve-hour course was originally developed at the University of Melbourne in Australia. It teaches people how to recognise the symptoms of mental illness, how to provide initial support and how to go about guiding a person towards appropriate help. The aims of the course are to: preserve life where a person may be a danger to themselves or others; provide help to prevent the mental heath problem developing into a more serious state; promote recovery of good mental health; and provide comfort to a person suffering a mental illness. We have now developed a three-hour INTRODUCTION TO MENTAL HEALTH (IMH) Course. This course does not provide the depth and breadth of mental health training that MHFA does. Nonetheless, it will ensure employees or volunteers have an awareness of issues of mental health and related stigma. This three-hour course prepares anyone working with people to be aware of the context of mental health, the misinformation surrounding mental health and common mental illnesses. This short course aims to raise the capability of those dealing with vulnerable people and to provide correct information. It does not create experts but ensures that participants know how to enlist professional support. APPLIED SUICIDE INTERVENTION SKILLS TRAINING (ASIST) – This is a two day course of suicide first aid training for both formal and informal carers. This excellent training package was created by LivingWorks Education in Canada which has been providing evidence-based training programmes for over twenty years. Their Suicide Intervention Model (SIM) has made a major contribution to suicide prevention around the world. SAFETALK – This is a half-day introduction to suicide intervention. The ‘SAFE’ in SafeTalk stands for “suicide alertness for everyone”. The course encourages general awareness of behaviour that might lead to suicide. Up to thirty people per course develop their understanding and confidence to become ‘suicide alert’.

Daybreak training was established to help raise awareness of a range of mental health issues. We seek to provide ordinary people with greater understanding and confidence when faced with someone experiencing mental distress. Our courses enable them to offer immediate support until professional help can be obtained. We work with staff and volunteers in companies, statutory bodies, voluntary organisations, as well as with members of the public. Our courses are practical and accessible and give participants the confidence and skills they need. In turn, this ensures greater well being in the workplace and the wider community. Mental health problems are extremely prevalent in England. One in four of the population are experiencing a serious mental health issue at any given time. Not only does this cause great distress to those individuals and to those close to them but it also has a huge impact on society as a whole. Some 30% of employees experience mental ill health each year which means over 91 million working days lost at a cost of over £12 billion per annum. Daybreak Training’s response to this situation is to help introduce four important courses: Mental Health First Aid, Introduction to Mental Health, ASIST, and SafeTalk. Each course helps to combat the impact and the stigma of mental ill health in the workplace and wider community. The courses are for anyone: family, friends, colleagues and people whose work might bring them into contact with someone in mental distress. Our partners include National Institute for Mental Health in England, Care Services Improvement Partnership, MIND, Mental Health First Aid Australia and LivingWorks Education Canada. Do contact us via our email info@daybreaktraining.co.uk or over the phone 07761-228702 for further information and to discuss what we can offer you. The cost of courses depends on the number of participants and the number of courses requested. We also offer concessionary rates for community and voluntary organisations.

Gerard Rosenberg - CEO As CEO of Daybreak Training, Gerard Rosenberg has been working on mental health media and training for many years. He has trained with the Richmond Fellowship and has worked with organisations such as Crime Reduction Initiatives and Alternatives to Violence on mental health issues. Gerard and his training associates are fully qualified in MHFA and ASIST training and are at the forefront of introducing these courses throughout England.

Bernie Graham Bernie Graham is Director of Mental Health Support. He is a fully qualified psychologist who has worked in mental health for almost twenty years. He was a member of the first trainers’ group in England to qualify as MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID instructors and now facilitates training in mental health awareness.

Chris Morgan Chris Morgan has a background in company management. He is now Programme Lead for Suicide Prevention at the South East Development Centre of the National Institute of Mental Health England. He also coordinates the provision of mental health awareness workshops in South West Kent to voluntary, statutory, and health service organisations. He is a qualified ASIST and MHFA trainer.

Jane Rosenberg Jane has many years of experience as a trainer in the Voluntary Sector specialising in carers and volunteers. She has worked with MIND and a special needs Housing Association (Mental Health and Learning Disability). She believes these courses are an excellent way to combat the stigma and ignorance that surround mental illness and to give anyone the confidence to help a relative, friend or colleague in distress.

Rob Fellows Rob Fellows has been a trainer for nearly 10 years and has worked in mental health for four years. He was responsible for introducing ASIST to England and subsequently led the project for 3 years. He also worked with the National Institute for Mental Health in England to introduce MHFA to England. Rob is an ASIST Consulting Trainer and an MHFA Instructor.

Sally Scott Sally Scott has worked in the mental health service for just over 10 years and has extensive experience within this field. Sally is a Manager at Wiltshire Mind the Mental Health Charity affiliated to National Mind. She is also a fully qualified MHFA trainer.