Online Workforce Training

Employment changes during the 2008 financial crisis highlighted the adverse impact on a range of chronic conditions, with the strongest effect being on mental health. Whilst we are in unprecedented times (i.e. not necessarily comparable to the financial crisis), there is evidence that the Covid-19 pandemic is significantly impacting mental wellbeing.

This will have both a short and long-lasting effect on mental health and result from a complex interaction between diverse socio-economic determinants of health (Institute for Fiscal Studies, 2020). Having somewhere warm/safe to live and employment are some of the key pillars to protecting and maintaining good mental health.

During the first wave of the pandemic, there were concerns across the economy and rising mental health needs across private, public and voluntary sectors. With the additional pressures experienced by many key workers and changes to home working, individuals being furloughed and/or increased anxieties about having a job, led to us proactively develop a set of mental health information and guidance for different groups of people.

Despite existing interventions and information available, there was a clear need for additional training for the wider workforce. Combining psychological first aid, mental health awareness and trauma informed training offers together will provide unique support for organisations and businesses, whilst maximising the benefits of delivering an introduction to Mental Health awareness alongside trauma informed training. This introductory offer will not replace existing training offers such as the Mental Health First Aid training (MHFA) training provided by Healthy Cornwall, but seek to complement the programme, and others, to reach the wider workforce by providing an online resource.