Mental Health Improvement, and Prevention of Self-Harm and Suicide

A facilitator package is a set of resources designed to be used when planning and delivering training. Facilitator packages include things like:

• Lesson plans – to guide the flow of your session
• Facilitator notes – to support key learning points
• Practical tools – to help create interactive and positive learning experiences

Unlike self-study materials, facilitator packages are about supporting the delivery of group learning sessions e.g. encouraging active participation, promoting inclusive learning and managing questions / discussions. 

Facilitator packages are available at two levels: 

• Informed level
• Skilled level

Two facilitator packages are available at this level:

• Ask Tell Respond Facilitation Package - Adult
• Ask Tell Respond Facilitation Package - Children and Young People

The learner audience for these packages is wide and varied. Learning at the informed level is relevant to anyone, in any workplace or community, who can make a positive difference to their own and others’ mental health and wellbeing, and help support those experiencing mental ill health or at risk of self-harm or suicide. Use these packages to facilitate learning about how to:

• have compassionate conversations and support mental wellbeing
• help prevent self-harm and suicide
• raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote wellbeing

Both packages contain slides, lesson plans and animations.

Four facilitator packages are available at this level:

• Supporting a person at risk of Distress and Crisis.
• Supporting a person at risk of Self-harm.
• Supporting a person at risk of Suicide [Adult].
• Supporting a person at risk of Suicide [Children and Young People].

The learner audience for these packages is staff who have direct and/or substantial contact with people at risk of mental ill health, self-harm, or suicide. They focus on promoting mental wellbeing and will enable individuals and communities to respond to concerns about self-harm and suicide with compassion and sensitivity.

Each package contains slides, facilitator notes, practical tools and evaluation guidance.

Your skills should match the package you plan to deliver. In addition, consider whether you have knowledge and expertise in:

• Experience in delivering training or facilitating workshops
• Understanding of wider social factors: health inequalities, poverty, prevention
• Enthusiasm to reduce stigma around mental ill health
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Up-to-date knowledge of mental health, mental health improvement and the prevention of self-harm and suicide.

 For Informed level:
 Review the relevant eLearning modules:

• Mental health improvement and suicide prevention
• Promoting children and young people's mental health and preventing self-harm and suicide
• Towards better outcomes : Reducing mental health inequalities and helping to prevent self-harm and suicide  

 For Skilled level:
 Review the relevant Learning Byte and the eLearning module:

• Learning Bytes
• Towards better outcomes : Reducing mental health inequalities and helping to prevent self-harm and suicide 

Application process:
Complete an application form for each package. Applications will be reviewed by the team with the outcome being one of the following:

• Approved: Package released to your inbox
• Pending: We may contact you for more information
• Declined: Insufficient evidence of knowledge or skills

Access application forms here:

• Informed Level - Ask Tell Respond Facilitation Package - Adult
• Informed level – Ask Tell Respond Facilitation Package - CYP
• Skilled Level  - Supporting people in distress and crisis Facilitation Package
• Skilled Level - Supporting people at risk of suicide (Adult) Facilitation Package
• Skilled Level  - Supporting people at risk of suicide (CYP) Facilitation Package
• Skilled Level - Supporting people at risk of self-harm Facilitation Package

Join the Ask Tell Respond Facilitator Network to: 

• Stay informed about new developments
• Share experiences and shape future resources
• Build connections across Scotland
• Access peer support and delivery partnerships 

How it works:

• Online events via MS Teams
• Updates, guest speakers, and facilitator-led discussions
• Advertised via newsletters/email mentalhealth@nes.scot.nhs.uk 

Consider these resources to strengthen your facilitation skills: 

• Foundations of Adult Education – An eLearning module about the key concepts that underpin the provision of adult education.
• Facilitation of Learning Programme (NMAHP) – A blended programme of self-directed learning and workshops about how to facilitate learning in the workplace.
• Technology Enabled Learning (TEL) – A series of six modules that support an evidence-informed approach to developing and facilitating synchronous and blended learning environments.
• National Trauma Transformation Website  – This website provides access to evidence-based training, tools and guidance to support trauma-informed and responsive systems, organisations and workforces in Scotland.
• National Trauma Transformation Programme | Turas | Learn – This Turas site summarises the key trauma training resources from the National Trauma Training Programme that are openly available to support all members of the Scottish workforce.