Free courses to help identify mental health problems

A course aimed at giving a greater understanding of suicide, selfharm and mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and panic attacks is to be offered in Perth and Aberfeldy.

Perth and Kinross Council is organising the two-day Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid training interactive courses next month.

The courses focus on being able to recognise if someone is experiencing a mental health problem.

The SMHFA course takes 12 hours to complete and is delivered by a qualified SMHFA instructor and monitored by NHS Health Scotland.

Mental Health First Aid has proved successful with members of the general public and different professional groups, including teachers, health workers, frontline public sector and voluntary sector workers. The courses are open to anyone and are free.

The training events will be held on December 4 and 11 at North Inch Community Campus, Perth, or December 13 and 14 at Breadalbane Community Campus in Aberfeldy.

To book places, state your preferred date and send contact details to smhfa.tayside@nhs.net or call 01382 424086.

On the issue of mental health provision, a Perth man has praised a number of local organisations for the support they offered him after a suicide attempt a year ago.

Tree surgeon Colin McNicol, 65, tried to take his own life following a lengthy spell of feeling ill. However, support from Murray Royal, Mindspace and Andy’s Man Club has helped the father of three on the road to recovery.

Mr McNicol has battled back and is trying to get back to work, and is keen to help others who are feeling the same way he did.

“It’s so important to realise that mental health affects everyone,” he said. “We need to get rid of the stigma that it is a so-called weakness, as more understanding and awareness is the key to helping. Medicine has its place, but you need to talk about how you are feeling.”