Description
While there are courses on mental health problems specific to mental health care professions, there is a need to tackle the gap in order to provide the necessary skills to other professional for whom first-line intervention in situations of mental ill health. The overall objective of the project is support the basic human need for mental health and well-being. The objective is to address the skills gap among people who often need to deal with mental health problems in their daily work. The project wants to raise awareness on mental health issues and the rights of asylum seekers other vulnerable groups. The challenges mentioned will be addressed through support to organizations, including NGOs, involved in work among people with mental health problems. The main target group includes professionals, members of the police force, people working with asylum seekers, paramedics, and people who support victims of crime. Staff members of Richmond Foundation will be trained and certified as MHFA instructors, where upon they will provide MHFA training in Malta. As part of the project, the training will be provided free of charge to NGOs working with disadvantaged groups.
Summary of project results
Richmond Foundation, an NGO that works in the community on various aspects of mental health, felt the need to tackle mental health issues at the various places of works by promoting primary mental health first aid provided by employers and colleagues at the workplace. The project’s overall objective was to support the basic human need for mental health and wellbeing by attempting to fill a serious skills gap in the area of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). The main target group included professionals, such as members of the police force who are called upon in cases of involuntary admissions, people working with asylum seekers, paramedics, and people who support victims of crime. Such professionals, although very competent in their area of specialisation, often lack the skills and knowledge to be able to identify possible mental health problems, and to deal with situations that may arise. Thus this project intended to fill the skills gaps by providing specialised training, in Malta, leading to MHFA certification. The project identified an internationally recognised provider of MHFA training. Suitably qualified staff members of Richmond Foundation were trained and certified as MHFA instructors, whereupon they are now providing MHFA training in Malta. As part of the project, the training was provided free of charge to NGOs working with disadvantaged groups. The project raised also awareness on the need for MHFA in the community, and the experienced gained in the development of the MHFA training programme will be used to advance specific policy recommendations. This project was indeed a huge success promoted very much at government level and is now listed as one of the established services/trainings provided by Richmond Foundation.
Summary of bilateral results