Oxfordshire Mind has been commissioned by Oxfordshire County Council to deliver comprehensive and co-ordinated all-ages Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Training in Oxfordshire for professionals and volunteers. Find out what courses you could access below.

Courses for People Working with Adults

Mental Health Awareness

This course raises awareness of mental health and covers: 
– What mental health is and how to challenge stigma
– A basic knowledge of some common mental health issues
– An introduction to looking after your own mental health and maintaining wellbeing
– Confidence to support someone in distress or who may be experiencing a mental health issue

Format
This is a four hour course delivered either face-to-face or via online video conferencing
Learning takes place through a mix of presentations, group discussions and workshop activities
We limit numbers to 25 people per course so that the instructor can keep people safe and supported while they learn
 
Takeaways
Everyone who completes the course gets:
– A certificate of attendance to say you are Mental Health Aware
– A manual to refer to whenever you need it
– A workbook including a helpful toolkit to support your own mental health

Suicide First Aid Lite

Suicide is one of the most common and preventable deaths, yet many people do not know how to support someone who is at risk of suicide.
This three and a half hour suicide prevention course aims to give learners the knowledge and skills needed to prevent deaths from suicide, in workplaces, their personal lives or community settings. You will learn how to identify the signs someone is at risk of suicide and how to talk about suicide in a safe and confident way, as well as where to signpost someone at risk of suicide for further support.
You will gain the skills to develop a safety plan with someone who is having suicidal thoughts.

Trauma Informed Practice

A practical, evidence‑informed introduction to Trauma Informed Practice, equipping staff and volunteers to recognise trauma, respond safely and sensitively, and support beneficiaries without causing retraumatisation.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this 4‑hour course, participants will be able to:

• Define trauma and Trauma Informed Practice, including the core principles, language, and frameworks that underpin trauma‑aware practice.
• Describe how trauma affects neurological, biological, psychological and social development, and recognise common trauma responses in beneficiaries.
• Apply Trauma Informed Practice approaches to real‑world support scenarios involving refugees, people experiencing homelessness, abuse survivors and other vulnerable groups.
• Use practical tools and communication techniques to create safety, build trust, and avoid re-traumatisation in support interactions.
• Identify signs of vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress, and implement personal strategies for self‑care and professional resilience.
• Work collaboratively within their organisation to embed trauma‑informed principles and strengthen existing support pathways.
• Reflect on their practice and access ongoing peer support opportunities to maintain and develop trauma‑informed skills after the course.

Courses for People Working with Young People

Suicide Prevention for Young People – With Nai’s House

Nai’s House, the Oxfordshire-based youth mental health and suicide prevention charity, has partnered with Oxfordshire Mind mental health charity, to develop and deliver a new suicide prevention training course designed for anyone who works with, supports, or is in regular contact with young people.

The sessions will help participants build the confidence and knowledge to safely have conversations with young people around suicidality, recognise warning signs, and speak appropriately with parents and caregivers following a disclosure. The training is aimed at professionals, community workers, educators, support staff, and any adults who regularly engage with young people and want to better understand how suicidality can affect them.

Participants will learn:
● How suicidality can affect young people
● The key warning signs to look out for
● The language young people may use when expressing distress
● Step-by-step guidance on how to open a conversation about suicide safely
● Important safety considerations when responding to a disclosure
● How to speak with parents and caregivers following a conversation with a young person

Youth Mental Health First Aid – With Oxfordshire Youth

This two-day course trains you as a Youth Mental Health First Aider (MHFAider®), giving you:

• An in-depth understanding of young people’s mental health and factors that affect wellbeing
• Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues 
• Confidence to reassure and support a young person in distress
• Enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening 
• Knowledge to help a young person recover their health by guiding them to further support – whether that’s through self-help sites, their place of learning, the NHS, or a mix – engaging with parents, carers and external agencies where appropriate
• Ability to support a young person with a long-term mental health issue or disability to thrive
• Tools to look after your own mental wellbeing ​

Format  

• Two-day face-to-face course delivered across four manageable sessions
• Each session is built around a Youth Mental Health First Aid action plan
• Learning takes place through a mix of presentations, group discussions and workshop activities
• We limit numbers to 16 people per course so that the instructor can keep people safe and supported while they learn

Takeaways 

Everyone who completes the course gets:

• A certificate of attendance to say you are a Youth MHFAider®
• A YouthMHFAider®  manual to refer to whenever you need it
• A workbook including some helpful tools to support your own mental health
• The opportunity to be part of the largest MHFAider® community in England 

Email: [email protected]