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Our diocesan Formation Team recently launched a Mental Health Training programme for all those involved in ministry within their parish. The new initiative includes a variety of training options with Awareness, Champion, and First Aid training courses for both adults and young people offered in-person at a range of locations across the Diocese (with some online sessions available) led by qualified counsellor, Lauren Carvalho. Talking about the important new initiative our Youth Adviser Lizzie Wakeling said:
"Each course aims to empower people of all ages involved in ministry to walk alongside those who struggle with mental health issues. As Catholics we are called to minister to the lost, and in today’s society so many people struggle with their mental wellbeing often causing them to feel lost and disconnected. There are a number of ways we can help to support them, but it all starts with finding out more. We are delighted to be able to offer a range of fully accredited, heavily subsidised courses delivered by a practising Catholic from our diocesan community."
This course is for anyone involved in ministry in their parish. Ideal for catechists, ministers of bereavement, those involved with the ministry of welcome - in fact any role that requires you to work with people:
Saturday 11 March, 10am - 2.30pm
The Fitzherbert Community Hub, 2 Bristol Road, Brighton, East Sussex BN2 1AP
Saturday 4 November, 10am - 2.30pm
St Michael’s, 19 Hayling Rise, Worthing, West Sussex BN13 3AL 10-2.30
This one day course trains you as an Mental Health First Aid Champion (MHFA). It is hoped that these skills will empower you to lead on projects in your parish to improve wellbeing in the community giving you:
Saturday 10 June, 9am - 4pm
St John the Evangelist Church Hall, Springfield Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 2PJ
Saturday 15 July, 9am - 4pm
Worth Abbey, Unity Room, Paddockhurst Road, Turners Hill, Worth, West Sussex RH10 4SB
Mental Health First Aid is a training course which teaches people how to identify, understand and help someone who may be experiencing a mental health issue. This course won't teach you to be a therapist, but it will teach you to listen, reassure, and respond, even in a crisis, and could potentially stop a crisis from happening. The course is accredited by Mental Health First Aid England and you will receive a certificate of attendance. You’ll learn to recognise warning signs of mental ill health and develop the skills and confidence to approach and support someone while keeping yourself safe.
Online (4 evenings): Tuesday 18, Wednesday 19, Tuesday 25, and Wednesday 26 April 6pm - 9.30pm - Register your place here
In person (two days): Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 May, 9am - 4pm at the St Philip Howard Centre, Crawley, RH10 6RP - Register your place here
This Youth Mental Health First Aid course is for everyone who works with, lives with or supports young people aged 8-18. It will teach you the skills and confidence to spot the signs of mental health issues in a young person, offer first aid and guide them towards the support they need. In doing so, you can speed up a young person’s recovery and stop a mental health issue from getting worse.
Our course won't teach you to be a therapist, but we will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis - and could potentially stop a crisis from happening. More than that, we aim to give you the information and skills to look after your own mental health so that you can set an example for young people. By giving you the tools to have these conversations, we hope to empower you to create a mentally healthy, supportive environment in your family, school, peer group or community.
Let's create a future where mental health is treated as a normal part of life, in the same way as physical health. A future where every young person has access to support if they need it.
Online (Four evenings): Tuesday 12, Wednesday 13, Tuesday 19, and Wednesday 20 September, 6pm - 9.30pm - Register your place here
If you have questions or queries about any of the courses offered please contact our Formation Team Youth Adviser Lizzie, here.
Financial help: If you feel unable to pay the cost of the course but your qualification would be useful for the parish, please speak to your priest to see if he is able to assist.
