There is a wealth of information available to support your mental health and wellbeing agenda, both online and through many organisations offering support.  It can be difficult to decide the best course to follow.

For Mind & Mission, it is about role-modelling the right behaviours, creating a stigma free culture and gaining insights to be able to effect change.

Not only are we professionally qualified psychotherapists, we also have first hand experience of working in industry and lived experience of mental health decline, which is an important factor in an empathetic approach to supporting individuals.

We are Scotland’s only business provider of Cognosis – a proprietary online tool that collects unique data to measure changes in behaviour and thinking in relations to Mental Fitness.

Our model  gives you a clear route to ensure you embed whatever best practice means for your organisation.

Suicide Prevention Scotland (SPS) is a one day training course owned, designed and delivered by qualified psychotherapists, Kirsty & Louise.  They both have considerable experience supporting mental health in Scotland, across the UK and have personal experience of conversations around suicide.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is run over two days.  It is owned by a Canadian organisation who licences the programme to Public Health Scotland (and England).  They in turn, decide when to train trainers who do not require formal qualifications in a mental health profession to become certified.  Those trainers are then free to arrange courses and charge a price that they decide.

The course itself varies slightly.  ASIST focusses more on the intervention stage, keeping individuals who are suicidal safe, whereas we focus primarily on prevention, spotting the signs and having conversations that may prevent the act of suicide.

We may not be globally recognised, yet, but we are a home grown organisation focussed on supporting and contributing to our community and economy and ultimately savings lives.

Studies show that 80% of people who receive coaching report increased self-confidence and over 70% benefit from improved relationships and more effective communication skills. [ICF 2009]

No, we do not offer Mental Health First Aid (MHFA).

MHFA is provided by Scotland’s NHS and MHFA England, which are trademarked and licenced programmes. We have attended the Scottish 2 day course and we are unable to recommend this training for organisations. We do however, support any and all general mental health awareness training in the wider context.

Our philiosphy is to generate empowerment through individual responsibility for Mental Fitness in the workplace. Our training cements the foundations of Mental Fitness, while taking a deeper look at the most frequently experienced issues facing organisations such as stress, bereavement and working relationships.

A wellbeing policy is where every business should start and there are many ways to achieve this. We do not believe however that it is enough.

Litigation on stress at work is on the increase. Legally you may have documentation to evidence you have considered the risks to your staff, however mental health is about people, not paperwork.

Mental Fitness is not about ticking boxes.

Demonstrating that you have put measures in place to protect your staff is the most proactive way to improve your business performance and protect your financial or legal standing.