Help Viewpoint to take the stigma out of mental health.
Viewpoint aims to help create a community equipped to support people who experience mental health challenges. We are a user-led charity supporting people experiencing mental health challenges; we have two trained Mental Health First Aiders and have helped members of the charity and employees at local businesses understand mental health, how to spot people who may be struggling and improve their mental well-being.
We need money to fund the following:
- An individual with mental health challenges to become a tutor
- Offer our community access to Mental Health First Aid courses.
Mental He
alth First Aid training plays a vital role in preventing suicide by equipping people in Hertfordshire with the skills and knowledge to identify signs of distress and offer crucial support. Mental Health First Aid training teaches early intervention, providing a lifeline to people who are experiencing mental health crises. By promoting awareness and intervention, Mental Health First Aiders contribute significantly to suicide prevention, ultimately saving lives and fostering a more compassionate and resilient society.
Participants of our mental Health First Aid course told us:
‘This was a really captivating and motivating course that promotes continuous learning about mental health first aid. I loved our activities within the sessions and the conversations…. Thank you so much for running such an important course for us all to take part in. I learnt a lot, and it went at a pace that was easy to follow and consider the material as well as contribute during conversations.’
‘Greater understanding, a framework to act it and tools/approaches - confident to try and help.’
One Instructors told us:
‘It’s been great delivering the Mental Health First Aid courses for Viewpoint. As someone with personal lived experience of mental health challenges, I feel it's important that the course is not just about the first aid skills themselves; we also use the training to raise awareness of mental health challenges, the impact of poor mental health on society, and the resources and services that can assist people living with mental health challenges and those supporting them.
Being an instructor has given me an excellent opportunity to develop my skills and to learn more about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into setting up courses and training workshops. Being part of a team has also been extremely beneficial, and we’ve been able to learn from and support each other, which will only continue as our team and the project continues to grow.’
More About VIEWPOINT
Viewpoint aims to develop innovative services that support people with a lived experience of mental health issues and/or alcohol and drug challenges. We put them at the centre of everything. For example, promoting good physical and psychological wellbeing while supporting people to be independent, have their say, and influence change to services that help them in their personal recovery.
Our support is flexible and needs-led, delivered by outreach group-based activity, one-to-one or remotely. Our groups are facilitated by people with lived experience of mental health challenges, providing a safe place to discuss issues, share experiences, and help solve problems. Alongside this, we offer a variety of educational sessions that enhance wellbeing. We equip each individual with the skills, attitude, and self-belief to live a successful, independent life in their community.
Some of the people supported by Viewpoint have become our instructors. Their personal experience of mental health challenges provides a unique and valuable perspective for them to run the course.