Welcome…
This signposting site will help you to find learning resources about mental health and wellbeing. From here you can explore:
What "Learning Starter" means
A “learning starter” can be something that you watch, read, listen to or work through that gets you thinking, reflecting and learning. We know that many of you can access learning resources about mental health from other places; maybe from your employer or, if you are a volunteer, from the organisation you volunteer with. This site is intended to supplement them and make it easier for you to find learning resources that could be relevant to you.
It’s a work in progress and we’ll improve and develop it over time based on the feedback you give us
To access some of the resources that we link to you will need a Turas account. You can sign up for an account here: https://learn.nes.nhs.scot
What does mental health and wellbeing mean to you?
Take a moment to think about these two questions:
- What does mental health mean to you?
- What does mental wellbeing mean to you?
If you had to give an answer - What would you say? what words would you use? What examples would you give? You might want to make a few notes to capture your initial thoughts
Now have a look at the definitions below
Mental health is a part of our overall health, alongside our physical health. It is what we experience every day, and like physical health, it ebbs and flows daily. Good mental health means we can realise our full potential and feel safe and secure. It also means we thrive in everyday life.
Scottish Government (2023)
Mental wellbeing is our internal positive view that we are coping well psychologically with the everyday stresses of life and can work productively and fruitfully. We feel happy and live our lives the way we choose.
Scottish Government (2023)
Reflection:
Now take a moment to consider how similar or different your thoughts were in relation to the formal definitions. Do the definitions resonate? What matters most to you about mental health and wellbeing? Do the definitions capture the ideas you think are most important?
As a society we often talk about “mental health” in the context of challenges, issues and problems rather than as something we all experience. Whatever your thoughts, taking time to think about what mental health and mental wellbeing means to you personally is a useful starting point for your learning journey.
Conversations about mental health and wellbeing
It can sometimes be difficult to talk about mental health so knowing how to start a conversation, and how to keep it going, are important skills to explore.
We think you might find these resources helpful:
- From the Samaritans: listening-tips-poster.pdf
- From NHS Education for Scotland: Spiritual care listening resources | Turas | Learn
In addition, you might find a resource called the Essentials of Psychologically Informed Care helpful. By working through it you will learn about: how to understand why people do the things they do, the role of our emotions and how they link to wellbeing, how to use active listening skills, communicate well, build good working relationships, and take care of yourself.
Learning topics
The learning topics included here are those most frequently mentioned as we developed this site. They are mostly focused on adults although some do also have learning relating to children and young people. For specific children and young people resources please see www.digitallearningmap.nhs.scot
Trauma Informed Practice
We all have a role to play in understanding and responding to people affected by trauma.
We think you might find this helpful:
Physical Health
There are lots of resources available via the link we have provided below. When you open in it, use the list on the left of the page to navigate to relevant topics for you. Topics labelled “Informed” are likely to be the most accessible if you are new to the concepts and topics.
Depression
This resource will help you to find out more about depression and ways you can support someone who is experiencing depression
Stress and Anxiety
This resource will help you to define what anxiety/stress means and identify ways you can support someone who is experiencing anxiety or stress
Death, Dying and Bereavement
There are lots of resources available via the link we have provided below. If you are a volunteer or carer note that links to other, possibly more relevant, sites are provided for you.
Substance Use
There are lots of resources available via the link we have provided below. When you open in it, use the list on the left of the page to navigate to relevant topics for you.
Working with substance use, trauma and mental health | Turas | Learn
Psychosis
This resource will help you to identify ways you can support someone who is experiencing psychosis
Mental Health Improvement, self-harm and Suicide Prevention
Every year in Scotland one in three people experience mental ill health, and every day two people die by suicide.
We think you might find this helpful:
Taking care of yourself
| Taking Care of Myself | Self help guides | The National Wellbeing Hub | Mind to Mind | Lifelines Scotland |
| In this resource you can create a Personal Wellbeing Plan and access Apps to help with sleep or stress. Taking care of myself | Turas | Learn (nhs.scot) | NHS Inform provides a range of mental health self-help guides and mental wellbeing tools. Self-help guides | NHS inform
| Contains a range of resources designed to support staff working in health, social care and social work: Home - National Wellbeing Hub | If you find other people’s stories and experiences helpful, take time to explore: Mind to Mind | NHS inform | "Staying Well Road Trip" module covers what we can do to look after our physical and mental health. There are versions for specific places of work. If you don’t work in one of those, the “Volunteer Responder” version might be the best one for you: https://www.lifelines.scot/training#roadtrip |
If you need help or support
Some of the topics and resources you explore from here might be sensitive or upsetting. If you need help or support talk to a friend, colleague or your line manager.
These sources of support are also available 24/7:
Taking care of others
If you are a line manager and/or leader you might find these links helpful:
- Resources about protecting the wellbeing of staff and psychological wellbeing podcasts: https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/29715
- NHS Education for Scotland’s Leadership Links provides bite-sized learning opportunities for leaders and managers at all levels. This will provide you with a framework to help you understand psychological wellbeing at work and what this means for you personally, and advice, suggestions and reflections on how line managers can support team wellbeing: Work and wellbeing | Turas | Learn
- Resources about the seven key components for providing psychological first aid to others: https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/29711
Ongoing Site Development
This resource represents a new approach to collating and curating learning resources. We will be evaluating the site and how it is being used across the coming months.
