Mental Health & Wellbeing Training
The Leeds Health and Care Academy is working alongside partners to facilitate a series of Health and Wellbeing initiatives throughout 2022 and 2023. All of these initiatives are fully-funded, and open to everybody working in the health and care system in Leeds. Read more about the opportunities that you can access below.
Note for employers:
We’ve secured funding to support smaller partners in freeing up staff to enable them to attend the mental health training and support sessions listed below. We categorise a small organisation as having a headcount of 50 or less. Backfill funding is capped at £500 per person, regardless of how many interventions they attend, and to ensure equity of opportunity each organisation can only apply for a maximum of 3 people’s roles to be backfilled. The funding is finite so we will operate on a first come, first served basis. To apply, please download and complete this form.
Health and Wellbeing Champions
We are committed to enabling health and wellbeing support across all Leeds health and care organisations, and part of this solution is through the embedding of 800 Health and Wellbeing Champions throughout the workforce.
Health and Wellbeing Champions work to enhance employee health and wellbeing by equipping staff with the resources and tools to support their peers, and to signpost to health and wellbeing services.
Through a one-day training programme Health and Wellbeing Champions will gain an in-depth understanding of factors that affect health and wellbeing, the knowledge and behaviours to identify and support those in need, and the skills to enhance their workplace health and wellbeing culture.
The course covers the following topics:
- The role of the Champion
- The four pillars of wellbeing (Mental, Physical, Financial, Social)
- Supporting others
- Resources and signposting
The training is delivered by The Yorkshire Centre for Training & Development, a member of the Luminate Education Group. It can be delivered in classroom or digital format depending on the need of the individual / organisation. If classroom learning is preferred, it can take place at Leeds City College, or at the employer organisation’s premises if there’s adequate space.
Please use the button below to sign up to a session, both virtual and in-person options are available.
If you have questions about the training, please contact support@yctd.ac.uk.
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognised training course, designed to teach people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first aid basis. In the same way as learning physical first aid, MHFA teaches people how to recognise those crucial warning signs of mental ill health and feel confident to guide someone to appropriate support. Embedding MHFA training within any organisation or community also encourages people to talk more freely about mental health, reducing stigma and creating a more positive culture.
A Mental Health First Aider is the first point of contact and will listen non-judgementally and sign post to appropriate support.
Mental Health First Aiders are not trained to be therapists or psychiatrists, but they can offer initial support through non-judgemental listening and guidance.
Mental Health First Aiders are trained to:
- Spot the early signs and symptoms of mental ill health.
- Start a supportive conversation with a colleague who may be experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress.
- Listen to the person non-judgementally.
- Assess the risk of suicide or self-harm.
- Encourage the person to access appropriate professional support or self-help strategies.
- Escalate to the appropriate emergency services, if necessary.
- Maintain confidentiality as appropriate.
- Complete critical incident documents as and when necessary.
- Protect themselves while performing their role.
The two-day, online course is made up of both individual learning activities and a series of live sessions. Individual learning will be based on a combination of videos, workbook activities and reading. This can be done at your own pace in advance of each live session.
If you decide to sign up, you and your manager will be required to sign a contract to say you are willing to be part of the Mental Health First Aiders database so employees know who they can approach if they are experiencing mental health issues. The role of a Mental Health First Aider in the workplace is to be a point of contact for an employee who is experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress. This interaction could range from having an initial conversation through to supporting the person to get appropriate help. As well as in a crisis, Mental Health First Aiders are valuable in providing early intervention help for someone who may be developing a mental health issue.
The training is delivered by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s approved MHFA England Instructors.
To apply, please download and complete the form available via the button below.
If you have questions about the training, please contact leedsth-tr.HealthandWellbeing@nhs.net
Health and Wellbeing Retreats
These experiential sessions allow staff to reflect on their own mental health, and the pressure and personal demands of working through a pandemic. They provide opportunities to consider our wellbeing needs and connect with peers.
This opportunity is available to colleagues who would like to learn more about mental health and improve their personal wellbeing.
The courses are developed in co-production. This means that people living with mental health challenges and professionals from a clinical or educational background get involved in the design and delivery, sharing their experience. This ‘lived’ and ‘learnt’ experience brings a mixture of perspectives, real life examples and relatable experiences into the training.
Topics include:
- Compassion fatigue
- Self-compassion
- Developing boundaries (work life balance)
- Finding peace in a busy life
- Living your values
The Retreats are a 10-4pm in-person workshop, including lunch and refreshments. The session includes group exercises and activities focusing on stress reduction and wellbeing, and there are opportunities for personal reflection and pair conversations. You will also be provided with take home session materials and course resources.
To enquire about dates and book onto a session, please call 0113 855 5127 or email leedsrecoverycollege.lypft@nhs.net.
Compassionate Circles
This is a short, structured discussion that allows the opportunity for individuals and teams to share experiences and connect in an intentionally supportive and compassionate space.
The 60-minute facilitator-led structured discussion is delivered online, including regular evening dates. Where appropriate there will be opportunities to deliver this in-person/in the workplace.
Each circle includes a compassionate ‘mindful’ check-in, questions for compassionate self-reflection, small group and whole group discussion and opportunities to give and receive appreciation.
To enquire about dates and book onto a session, please please call 0113 855 5127 or email leedsrecoverycollege.lypft@nhs.net.
Wellness Recovery Action Plan®
Lost the work / life balance?
Experiencing compassion fatigue?
Feel tired, anxious or disillusioned?
Stressed or approaching burnout?
Wellness Recovery Action Plan® (WRAP®) is an evidence-based system used worldwide by people to manage all kinds of challenges that impact their wellbeing. It is a personalised plan that you develop for yourself which helps you think about getting and staying well.
The Wellness Recovery Action Plan® was developed in 1997 by Mary-Ellen Copeland, an author, educator and mental health advocate in the USA. At Leeds Recovery College, the facilitators are trained and accredited by the Copeland Centre and follow the original WRAP® curriculum, values and ethics.
Regular WRAP®s take place at Leeds Recovery College with courses typically ranging in size from 8 to 12 participants. They also deliver a comprehensive 12- week course, and an online version, which introduces the first section of WRAP, key concepts and focuses on wellness planning.
In the 2-day WRAP® we will cover;
- Building your wellness toolbox
- Developing your daily plan
- Planning for stressors and triggers
- Identifying early warning signs
- Planning for when things are breaking down or getting much worse
- Introduction to crisis planning
- Reviewing your plan and post crisis planning
To enquire about dates and book onto a session, please call 0113 855 5127 or email leedsrecoverycollege.lypft@nhs.net.
Money Buddies
Money Buddies are here to help you save money, increase your income and advise you at times of financial crisis. They are the biggest independent Money Advice Service in West Yorkshire, and their aim is to help their clients out of debt and poverty. They are an independent organisation that works in partnership with Leeds City Council, councillors, and other leading charities in Leeds, The Leeds Debt Forum and the Community Fund (Big Lottery) to deliver Money Buddy sessions across the city.
Whether you’re having difficulty paying a debt, need legal debt advice, or if you’re not sure what to do about your finances, they can help you.
You don’t need to be in financial crisis to get help, many of their clients don’t have any financial issues – they enquire to see a Money Buddy to find out where they can save money on their gas, electricity, water bills and much more.
Support is free, non-judgemental and confidential. Your safety and financial capability is their priority.
Money Buddies is a project of Burmantofts Community Projects. To sign up for a Money Buddies support session, you can sign up via the button below.
For further information on accessing Money Buddy support, please contact leedsth-tr.HealthandWellbeing@nhs.net
Leeds City Council have also produced a support pack regarding the cost of living crisis which provides actionable tips and advice on how to save money. You can view and download it here.
Additional Resources
This section provides links to additional support that can be accessed across the city.
Mental Health
Organisation | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
Able Futures | Able Futures provides support to people working and living with mental health difficulties, employers and providers of apprenticeships. It is a nationwide specialist partnership set up to provide the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
| ablefutures.co.uk |
Mentally Healthy Leeds (Touchstone) | A preventative service working with people at risk of experiencing poor mental health. The service is delivered in a community development approach, treating individuals and communities as assets, looking at what is strong, rather than what is wrong. | touchstonesupport.org.uk |
Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service | A Leeds Community Healthcare service that provides mental health support and a range of psychological therapies to help people struggling with anxiety and depression. | leedscommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk |
MindMate | A website for children and young people in Leeds that aims to help support their mental health and wellbeing. It includes information about local services, self-care tools and short stories from other young people who have had problems with their mental health. | mindmate.org.uk |
MindWell | A mental health resource that combines information from the NHS in Leeds, Leeds City Council and third sector organisations. | mindwell.org.uk |
Live Well Leeds | Provides support for people with mild-to-moderate mental health needs. It offers 1-2-1, peer and group support, as well as befriending and volunteering opportunities. | livewellleeds.org.uk |
Men's Health
Organisation | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
Touchstone Men’s Health | A city-wide network tackling male-related health inequalities in Leeds. | meninhealth.org.uk |
Andy’s Man Club | Male suicide prevention charity offering free peer-to-peer support groups. Their aim is to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help men through the power of conversation. | andysmanclub.co.uk |
Leeds Dads | Offering a support group for Leeds Dads with pre-school age children, this voluntary organisation brings together a diverse community of fathers for social interaction and support. | leedsdads.org |
Men in Health (Touchstone, MESMAC and Forum Central) | Men in Health is a new project funded by West Yorkshire Health & Care partnership and delivered by Touchstone, MESMAC and Forum Central (on behalf of Men’s Health Unlocked). Men in Health supports all men working in health and social care across West Yorkshire with health and wellbeing needs. | For support or to find out more, please contact Ali via 07733 715814 or ali@touchstonesupport.org.uk |
Women's Health
Organisation | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
Women’s Health Matters | Women’s Health Matters champions freedom for disadvantaged women and girls so they can have a fair chance at a better life. They specialise in group work, peer support, and providing one-to-one support to women and girls in Leeds. Their broad health remit enables women experiencing violence and abuse to raise issues in safety and to receive support without stigma or partner suspicion. | womenshealthmatters.org.uk |
Women Friendly Leeds – Menopause Support Meet Up | Women Friendly Leeds Menopause Meetup is a safe, respectful and inclusive space. Leeds women of any age can discuss experiences of menopause, tips, advice and stories. It will be based on mutual support and friendly chat. The group meets on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 6.30pm. | womenfriendlyleeds.org.uk |
Domestic Violence Support
Organisation | Description | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|
Behind Closed Doors | Face-to-face community based support, advocacy and help to reduce risk, increase safety, access civil legal help and manage practical needs. | behind-closed-doors.org.uk | |
Leeds Domestic Violence Service (LDVS) delivered in partnership by Leeds Women’s Aid, HALT and Behind Closed Doors | LDVS works with women and men in Leeds giving support, advice and advocacy around a range of issues. It provides access to Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVA), outreach, resettlement and group support. | LDVS.uk | |
Leeds Women’s Aid | An independent charity providing services to women and children affected by Domestic Violence & Abuse. They provide a range of services for vulnerable women and families who are victims and survivors of: domestic, sexual & honour based violence and abuse; forced marriage; trafficking; stalking and harassment. | leedswomensaid.org.uk |
Food Banks
Organisation | Description | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|
Leeds North and West Food Bank | Can provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred in crisis. They are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK. | leedsnorthandwest.foodbank.org.uk | |
Leeds South and East Food Bank | As above but covering South and East Leeds. | leedssouthandeast.foodbank.org.uk |
Third Sector Support
Organisation | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
Doing Good Leeds | Platform to support people and organisations within the third sector with volunteering, jobs and training opportunities. | doinggoodleeds.org.uk |
Drug and Alcohol Support
Organisation | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
Forward Leeds | Free, confidential alcohol and drug support for people in Leeds. | forwardleeds.co.uk |
Bereavement
Organisation | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
Leeds Bereavement Service | Important information to consider following the death of a relative or friend, including how to access bereavement support from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. | leeds.gov.uk |
Additional Training
Organisation | Description | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|
Springboard | A personal development programme for women working in the health and care sector. Women are supported to assess themselves, set goals and develop practical interpersonal skills and the self-confidence necessary to achieve success.
Springboard helps women to shake off the effects of limiting stereotypes in society, and empowers women with the self-belief, assertiveness, helpful contacts and positive thinking to build the life they want, both at work and at home.
| leedshealthandcareacademy.org.uk | |
Better Conversations | Better Conversations provides space for staff to reflect on their conversations, and explore their communication in a supportive environment. It aims to enable health and care colleagues to deliver and encourage more collaborative conversations, primarily those conversations between a health and care professional and patient or service user, or when speaking to members of the public. | leedshealthandcareacademy.org.uk |
More resources can be accessed through the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership website.
