Delivering a basic mental health training programme: views and experiences of Mental Health First Aid instructors in Wales

Accessible summary • As more people are experiencing mental distress, there is a need for increased basic mental health training programmes for the public and people who work in voluntary and statutory organizations. Mental Health First Aid is an example of a basic mental health training programme and is now available in at least 16 countries internationally. • There has been little research into basic mental health training programmes generally, and information from instructors delivering these programmes may provide information about the most effective way of delivering mental health training programmes to a wide audience. • In this study, instructors delivering the Mental Health First Aid programme in Wales were asked to give their views and experiences of delivering the programme. These instructors found challenges in marketing and recruiting people to the programme and said it was important they had the necessary skills and support to enable them to deliver the programme effectively. Originating in Australia, ‘Mental Health First Aid’ (MHFA) is a way of providing support to someone who is experiencing a mental health problem before professional help is obtained. Positive evaluations have shown that it both increases confidence while decreasing stigmatizing attitudes. However, the evidence base surrounding the delivery of basic mental health programmes remains underdeveloped. This descriptive qualitative study explored the views and experiences of 14 MHFA instructors from across Wales through semi-structured interviews, as a means to identify the experience of course delivery from their perspective. Data were collected between January and April 2009. The study found individuals benefited from being an MHFA instructor through increased confidence and self-development. However, instructors encountered logistical difficulties in course delivery and noted that as attendees related to the course material, they wished to discuss their own mental health problems during the course. This created considerable challenges for instructors, who noted both positive and negative impacts on themselves, and on their expectations of the role of becoming MHFA instructors. In conclusion, basic mental health training courses must build a clear infrastructure, ongoing quality assurance processes and reliable support structures to train, support and monitor those delivering them.