Mental Health Awareness Session (Adults)
Many people and workplaces are well‑equipped to respond to physical injuries, we train people in first aid, run regular refreshers, and make sure everyone knows what to do in a crisis. But the reality is that mental health challenges are becoming one of the biggest issues people and organisations will face. Despite this, many people and workplaces aren’t as prepared to recognise or respond to a mental health concern or crisis in the same way they would a physical one.
Mental Health Awareness Sessions help bridge that gap by giving people the confidence, language, and practical skills to support someone experiencing a mental health challenge, start a safe conversation, and take early, proactive steps, just as they would with any physical health emergency.
These sessions provide an overview of mental health, common mental illnesses, and the skills to assist and identify the early warnings signs of a mental health problem. They also emphasise building confidence, understanding, and practical skills that support wellbeing in everyday life.
COURSE INFORMATION
Register your interest
Length: up to 120 minutes
Suited for: Adults 18+
Group bookings only
What a session could look like
Each Mental Health Awareness Session is tailored to the needs of the group and can be delivered in workplaces, community settings, sports, and more. Sessions can run anywhere from 45 minutes up to 120 minutes and include a mix of learning, discussion, and interactive activities.
A session may include:
Understanding Mental Health & Mental Illness: Acute signs, symptoms, and how mental health challenges show up in daily life.
Stressors and Early Warning Signs: Recognising changes in behaviour, mood, or functioning that may indicate someone is struggling.
The Mental Health Conversation: Learning how to start a safe, supportive conversation with colleagues, friends, or family members.
Scenario‑based practice: Practical activities that help participants apply skills in real‑world situations, including sector‑specific or workplace specific challenges.
Supporting Wellbeing: Strategies for supporting staff, clients, and peers in a way that promotes safety and connection.
Self‑care strategies: Evidence‑based tools to manage stress and protect personal wellbeing.
Sessions will be delivered by experienced facilitators, including licensed Mental Health First Aid instructors, ensuring high‑quality, engaging, and relatable learning experiences.
What are the benefits
Mental Health Awareness Sessions create meaningful impact across workplaces and communities. Participants walk away with increased confidence, practical skills, and a deeper understanding of mental health with the key benefits being:
A safer, more supportive culture: People will feel their mental health genuinely matters, helping build trust, psychological safety, and stronger connection
Improved confidence to recognise and respond to mental health challenges: People learn how to identify early warning signs in themselves and colleagues and understand when someone may need support.
Reduced stigma and more open conversations: Sessions help break down myths, misconceptions, and discomfort around mental health, making it easier for people to speak up early.
Better support for friends, family and colleagues: People will gain practical tools to respond safely and compassionately to people experiencing distress.
Enhanced resilience and wellbeing: Participants learn simple, evidence‑based self‑care strategies that help manage stress, prevent burnout, and maintain performance.
Stronger leadership capability: Leaders and supervisors build confidence in having supportive conversations, navigating sensitive situations, and modelling mentally healthy behaviours.
Early intervention and reduced risk: When people can recognise changes early, those around them and organisations are better positioned to prevent crisis, reduce absenteeism, and meet psychosocial safety obligations.
How to enrol
Please register your interest by clicking on the button below and one of our staff members will contact you to discuss further.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Mental Health Awareness Session does not provide participants with any accreditation or CPD points.
The Mental Health Awareness session is an introduction to Mental Health First Aid, which is fully accredited. If this is more interesting to you, please visit our Mental Health First Aid page to register.
Our mental health awareness sessions have been developed using the latest published research, statistics and preventative recommendations. It was developed in consultation with key mental health professionals, educators and lived experience individuals.
No, there is no pre-work or requirements that must be met before attending an awareness session. These sessions are designed specially to build awareness and provide participants with further information they may not know or understand.
Mental Health Awareness Sessions are designed with sensitivity in mind, but it’s understood that some content might be triggering for certain individuals. Here’s what typically happens if someone gets upset or triggered during a session:
Creating a Safe Space: Facilitators aim to create a supportive environment where participants feel comfortable expressing their feelings. The facilitator/s will ensure that a trigger warning and what someone can do if this does occur, in complete at the start of the session.
Providing Immediate Support: If someone becomes upset or triggered, facilitators are trained and skilled to respond to offer immediate support. This could involve taking a break, speaking with the individual one-on-one, or guiding them to a quiet space if needed. A list of helpful professional resources will be available to all participants before and after the session.
Feedback and Adjustment: Facilitators might gather feedback to understand what triggered the reaction and make adjustments for future sessions to minimize the risk of similar incidents.
It’s all about ensuring everyone feels supported and safe, even if the content is challenging.
