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Skilled level

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The skilled level refers to the knowledge and skills needed by front-line staff who are not mental health specialists but work in health, social care, public services, and other related areas. These staff members often have regular or significant contact with people who may be at risk of mental ill health, self-harm, or suicide. Because of this, they play a key role in promoting mental health and helping to prevent self-harm and suicide.

Towards Better Outcomes - eLearning module

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Towards better outcomes

This module will support you to develop your understanding of what health inequalities are in the context of mental health and the prevention of self-harm and suicide. It will also support you to respond to inequalities and enable change through your practice.

Towards better outcomes : Reducing mental health inequalities and helping to prevent self-harm and suicide | Turas | Learn

Learning Bytes

A learning byte is a self-directed learning resource, designed to support learners to explore a topic in some depth at their own pace. There are five learning bytes. Each one covers a different topic, but they are all connected. Common themes run through them, and they refer to each other when helpful. You can complete them in any order.

The learning bytes can be used by individuals, teams, organisations, or training providers to support local learning and development needs.

The learning bytes covers subjects which can be distressing. Choose a time and place that is suitable for you to complete them and take a break if you need to. If you experience any distress, speak to someone you trust or contact one of the organisations listed below:

  • Samaritans: 116 123 (24 hours)
  • NHS 24: 111 (24 hours)
  • Breathing Space: 0800 83 85 87 (24 hours at weekends (6pm Friday – 6am Monday). 6pm to 2am on weekdays (Monday – Thursday)
  • Childline 0800 1111 (24 hours)
Learning Byte 1: Promoting Mental Health and Tackling Inequalities
Learning byte 1

Includes understanding what mental health is, features of positive mental health, determinants of mental health, risk factors and inequalities that can lead to mental ill health, what works to improve mental health and how you can apply this knowledge in your own workplace.

Learning Byte 1: Promoting Mental Health and Tackling Inequalities

Accessible word version available here:

Learning Byte 1 (Microsoft Word version)

Learning Byte 2: Supporting People in Distress and Crisis
Learning byte 2

Includes understanding distress, crisis and related risk or protective factors, recongnising when someone may be experiencing distress or crisis, providing a compassionate and helpful response, supporting self-help and problem-solving and knowing how and when to access more urgent support for someone.

Learning Byte 2: Supporting People in Distress and Crisis

Accessible word version available here:

Learning Byte 2 (Microsoft Word version)

Learning Byte 3: Supporting People at Risk of Suicide
Learning byte 3

Includes the factors that might cause people to
think about suicide, working with people to assess their risk of suicide, conversations that enable people to talk
about their thoughts of suicide, when to seek emergency support and intervention for people at risk of suicide, practical and emotional approaches to supporting  people at risk of suicide. Part B inlcudes additional information about children and young people who may be at risk of suicide.

Learning Byte 3: Supporting People at Risk of Suicide

Accessible word version available here:

Learning Byte 3 (Microsoft Word version) 

Learning Byte 4: Supporting People at Risk of Self-Harm
Learning byte 4

Includes the different reasons why people self-harm, understanding self-harm as communication of distress,  some common misconceptions surrounding self-harm, impact of thoughts, feelings and emotions on self-harm, adopting a sensitive, compassionate and  non-judgemental approach when talking about self-harm,  risk and protective factors associated with self-harm, ways you can positively respond to and talk about self-harm.

Learning Byte 4: Supporting People at Risk of Self-Harm

Accessible word version available here:

Learning Byte 4 (Microsoft Word version)

Learning Byte 5: Supporting Recovery and Quality of Life for People Living with Mental Ill Health
Learning byte 5

Includes understanding  the concept of recovery and how to work in a way that promotes this, supporting  people to engage with wider community resources that promote social and peer support, meaningful purpose and positive relationships, understanding the physical health problems and barriers to treatment and lifestyle change that can be experienced by people living with mental ill health, recognising the impact of stigma and discrimination on mental health recovery, and promoting inclusion, health and quality of life.

Learning Byte 5: Supporting Recovery and Quality of Life for People Living with Mental Ill Health

Accessible word version available here:

Learning Byte 5 (Microsoft Word version)