Mental Health Awareness

Mental health is an essential part of overall health and wellbeing. People experiencing mental health difficulties may require understanding, compassion and appropriate support from the professionals who care for them every day. Whether you work in a care home, supported living service, domiciliary care, healthcare setting or another health and social care environment, having a good understanding of mental health can help you provide safer, more person-centred care.

This comprehensive Mental Health Awareness course has been developed for health and social care professionals who need practical, awareness-level knowledge that can be applied confidently in the workplace. Rather than focusing on diagnosing mental health conditions, the course equips learners to recognise changes in a person's wellbeing, communicate effectively, promote positive mental health, understand their professional responsibilities and respond safely within the boundaries of their role.

Throughout the course, learners will explore how mental health affects individuals differently, the factors that influence wellbeing, common warning signs, communication techniques, person-centred support, crisis awareness, legal responsibilities, professional boundaries and the importance of accurate recording and escalation. The course also highlights the importance of looking after your own mental wellbeing while working in health and social care.

Designed around current UK legislation, recognised best practice and evidence-based guidance, the course supports learners in developing practical skills that improve confidence while promoting dignity, respect, equality and recovery-focused care.

What you will learn

By completing this course, you will learn how to:

1. Understand mental health, mental wellbeing and their importance in everyday care.
2. Promote positive mental wellbeing through person-centred approaches.
3. Recognise early warning signs that someone may be experiencing mental health difficulties.
4. Understand the broad impact of common mental health conditions at an awareness level.
5. Communicate effectively and support people with compassion, dignity and respect.
6. Recognise mental health crises, self-harm concerns and suicide warning signs, and respond safely within your role.
7. Understand how mental health assessment, support services and recovery pathways work.
8. Apply key legal principles relating to mental health, consent, confidentiality, equality, human rights and professional responsibilities.
9. Record concerns accurately and escalate them appropriately.
10. Protect your own mental wellbeing while working in health and social care.

Who should take this course?

This course is suitable for:

1. Care Assistants
2. Support Workers
3. Healthcare Assistants (HCAs)
4. Senior Care Workers
5. Domiciliary Care Workers
6. Residential and Nursing Home Staff
7. Supported Living Staff
8. Personal Assistants
9. Activity Coordinators
10. Agency Care Staff
11. Volunteers working in health or social care
12. Newly appointed health and social care staff
13. Registered professionals requiring awareness-level refresher training

Course Features

1. CPD-certified online training
2. Awareness-level learning suitable for health and social care staff
3. Practical workplace scenarios and real-life examples
4. Interactive knowledge checks throughout the course
5. Evidence-based content aligned with current UK guidance
6. Developed using person-centred and recovery-focused principles
7. Certificate available on successful completion

Learning Modules

1. Welcome and Course Information
2. Understanding Mental Health and Wellbeing
3. Promoting Positive Mental Wellbeing
4. Recognising Mental Health Conditions and Their Impact
5. Understanding Risk Factors and Early Warning Signs
6. Mental Health Crisis, Self-Harm and Suicide Awareness
7. Communication and Person-Centred Support
8. Mental Health Assessment, Support and Recovery
9. Mental Health Across Different People and Care Settings
10. Mental Health Law, Rights and Professional Responsibilities
11. Managing Concerns, Recording and Escalation
12. Looking After Your Own Mental Wellbeing
13. Final Assessment

Certification

Learners who successfully complete the final assessment will receive a free downloadable as evidence of their learning. The certificate can be retained as part of an individual's continuing professional development (CPD) record.

Why choose this course?

Unlike many awareness courses that focus heavily on clinical terminology or diagnostic labels, this programme has been designed specifically for frontline health and social care staff. It concentrates on recognising concerns early, communicating effectively, providing compassionate person-centred support and understanding when and how to escalate concerns appropriately. The result is practical, workplace-focused learning that helps staff feel more confident supporting people experiencing mental health difficulties while working safely within their professional role.