Scotland pioneers mental health 'first-aider' scheme

The national training programme, funded by the Scottish Executive and NHS Health Scotland, is the first of its kind in the world and will train at least 300 instructors over the next three years.

Eventually it is hoped that thousands of people from all walks of life will be able to practise "CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation] for the mind".

The roll-out is part of the Scottish Executive’s National Programme to Improve Mental Health and Well Being, and will be launched officially in June.

Gregor Henderson, the director of the Mental Health Programme, said the scheme is one of a number of initiatives to reduce the stigma attached to mental health.

Celebrities, including the chatshow host Trisha Goddard and the Scottish TV presenter Gail Porter, have already spoken out about their own problems with mental health to encourage others to come forward.

But despite increased publicity, rates of suicide have risen in Scotland in recent years, with 791 people taking their own lives in 2003.

Mr Henderson said mental health problems affect one in four people in Scotland at some point in their lives and more than three-quarters know someone who has suffered.

He said the best way to help is to teach the general public how to deal with such problems.

Based on the concept of first aid training, mental health first aid (MHFA) was developed at the Centre for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University, Canberra.

The method teaches the general public to recognise the symptoms of someone with mental health problems, such as difficulty coping with work, and to deal with a crisis situation through guiding someone towards professional help.

NHS Health Scotland ran a pilot scheme last year involving 15 people who went on to train 900 people across Scotland.

An independent evaluation of the pilot scheme found that people who attended the course not only lost their negative attitude to people with mental health problems but also improved their own mental health.

Scotland is one of the first countries with a strategic programme of MHFA. By October, 142 people will have been trained as instructors through a four- to six-day course, which requires regular refresher training.

The instructors go on to take groups of up to 15 people from all walks of life for 12-hour courses spread over two days.

Mr Henderson said: "It gives participants the skills to support people, to talk to them and to put them in touch with local helpful agencies and support. It is like CPR for the mind."

Mr Henderson said the programme will have trained at least 4,000 people by the end of this financial year at a cost of 200,000.

"This is everyday people providing everyday support in everyday situations. So you do not walk away, you can actually do something to support people."

Shona Neil, the chief executive of the Scottish Association for Mental Health, said: "A lot of the difficulties around mental health are based on misunderstanding and fear, so anything we can do to inform people has got to be a good thing."

Ms Neil said mental health first aiders could not only help friends and family to recover but improve the whole nation’s mental health.

She continued: "The benefit of a national programme is that it will help to build a mentally resilient population in Scotland in the longer term, which is the best defence you can have against mental health problems.

"If you are brought up to spot mental health problems and are not worried that people will think less of you because you experience distress, then you are in a better position to deal with your own mental health problems and those of people around you."

But she pointed out that mental health first aiders must be aware of treatments other than medical intervention, such as alternative therapies - or even talking problems over with friends.

Anyone who wants to train as a mental health first aider can contact Alana Atkinson at the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health on 0131 555 5959.