Mental Health First Aid in Construction

This one-day course is suitable for anyone, including managers responsible for their staff, those interacting with the public, or those who want to improve their knowledge around mental health.

The first part, delivered by St John, has the following learning outcomes. 

• Demystify and destigmatize conversations around mental health.
• Have a basic understanding of the relationship between mental health and mental distress.
• Identify when a person may be experiencing a mental health crisis.
• Know and be able to use the Listen to your HEAD action plan in a simulated scenario.
• Know when to provide a referral for assistance.
• Know how to get immediate assistance if necessary

The second part, delivered by Site Safe, has the following learning outcomes. 

• Explain the importance of providing mental health services in a construction environment.
• Identify the personal and financial impact of construction workers with poor mental health on the construction industry.
• Apply the Listen to your HEAD (Hazards – Engage – Action – Debrief) action plan.

Identify what is needed to support positive mental health in the workplace

This course has no formal assessment

This one-day course is divided into two parts.

St John session

The St John section focuses on general mental health and the factors that affect our mental health. It shows how to recognise signs of someone experiencing poor mental health and covers topics such as depression, anxiety, addiction, self-harm and suicide. 

A key aspect of the course is to learn how to respond to someone experiencing mental health concerns using the Listen to your HEAD action plan.

Site Safe session

The Site Safe section focuses on how the construction industry views mental health, the importance of promoting awareness of mental health and ways to support workers at work. 

Some of the questions we ask are:

• Do we treat mental health as important as physical health at work?
• Have we stigmatised people suffering from poor mental health?
• Do we still believe in the “harden up” or “take a concrete pill” mentality in construction sites?
• What are we doing at work that positively or negatively impacts workers’ mental health?
• What are the benefits of promoting positive mental health?
• How do we support positive mental health and wellbeing?
• What are companies doing to build workers’ good mental health?
• What are we, as individuals, doing to build our own mental health and to support others?
• How can you make a difference? 

The course is delivered through interactive group workshops, discussions and videos. Learners will look at construction-specific scenarios to discuss the Listen to your HEAD action plan. 

Learners are expected to actively participate during the workshops and discussions.

We regularly review and update course content in partnership with the construction industry, to ensure alignment to best practice industry standards. Visit our Why Choose Site Safe Training page for more information.

To complete this course successfully, learners must be able to read and understand conversational English. If you are not comfortable with English comprehension or if you need assistance in choosing the right course for you please contact us.

On completion of the course, you will receive:

• Site Safety Card (Passport) or renew your existing card which will be valid for  two years.
• St John Mental Health First Aid certificate and workbook.
• 8 Licensed Building Practitioner points.
• 2 credits towards the Health and Safety in Construction Programme. 

The Site Safe Mental Health pocket guide will be available in the classroom to pick up. 

Visit the Tools for Mental Health page on the Site Safe website for examples of how some construction companies have promoted and supported positive mental health in their workplace. You will also find some useful links and helplines on this page.

Completing this course means you'll be better equipped to handle situations that relate to mental health.

When it's time to renew your Site Safety card again you don't need to complete the same course - expand your health and safety knowledge with a different course that's relevant to you. Have a look at the pathway examples for more training options after successfully completing this course. 

Completing this course will also mean that you are well on your way to gaining a qualification in health and safety. Visit the Health and Safety in Construction Programme page for more info.   

Check out our Training CPD Matrix to see Site Safe courses and credits at a glance