Delivering a basic mental health training programme: views and experiences of Mental Health First Aid instructors in Wales

Originating in Australia, ‘Mental Health First Aid’ (MHFA) is a way of providingsupport to someone who is experiencing a mental health problem before professionalhelp is obtained. Positive evaluations have shown that it both increases confidencewhile decreasing stigmatizing attitudes. However, the evidence base surrounding thedelivery of basic mental health programmes remains underdeveloped. This descriptivequalitative study explored the views and experiences of 14 MHFA instructors fromacross Wales through semi-structured interviews, as a means to identify the experienceof course delivery from their perspective. Data were collected between January andApril 2009. The study found individuals benefited from being an MHFA instructorthrough increased confidence and self-development. However, instructors encounteredlogistical difficulties in course delivery and noted that as attendees related to the coursematerial, they wished to discuss their own mental health problems during the course.This created considerable challenges for instructors, who noted both positive andnegative impacts on themselves, and on their expectations of the role of becomingMHFA instructors. In conclusion, basic mental health training courses must build aclear infrastructure, ongoing quality assurance processes and reliable support structuresto train, support and monitor those delivering them.