Youth Mental Health First Aid Training

The Catholic Bishops’ Mental Health Project aims to:

* Offer support and resources to local Catholic communities as they respond to those facing mental health challenges

* Identify and highlight good practice in pastoral care for those with mental health needs, their families and carers

* Develop a network of those within the Catholic community in England and Wales with a special interest in locally based mental health support

For more information on the Catholic Bishops’ Mental Health project visit their website:

http://www.cbcew.org.uk/CBCEW-Home/Departments/Christian-Responsibility-and-Citizenship/Mental-Health

In the Clifton Diocese, Dave Wheat (our Diocesan Youth Ministry Co-ordinator) has taken up this initiative and has organised a number of training sessions led by Mental Health First Aid England.  On 25 & 26 June, four members of our the Salisbury Catholic Churches team attended the Youth Mental Health First Aid course at Alexander House in Bristol.  The training was excellent and we would encourage anyone who has the chance to go on an MHFA course to do so (they carry out training for businesses and other private, state and charitable sector organisations).

By practising Mental Health First Aid in our daily lives and by having conversations about mental health in our parish community, we are breaking down the barriers of stigma and discrimination which sadly still exist for many.  

If you would like to find out more about Mental Health First Aid and the training we have received there is a short video on their website: https://mhfaengland.org/

Our four qualified Youth Mental Health First Aiders are:

Xanthe Vanderputt - Youth Worker   01722 333581

Caroline Williams - Outreach Worker 01722 502503

Ellen Cook - Project 99 Missionary 

Alain Loulie - Project 99 Missionary