Why it’s time to change mental health training
Mental health training is evolving to focus on prevention, confidence and culture, helping people stay well, not just cope in crisis.
At Change Mental Health, we’ve spent over five decades supporting individuals, families and communities across Scotland. Much of that work has focused on helping people during moments of crisis, when they are most vulnerable. That kind of support will always remain central to what we do.
But lately we’ve been asking: what would it look like to get ahead of the crisis? What if people had the tools, the confidence and the culture around them to maintain their wellbeing before things reached breaking point?
That’s where our new Mental Health Training offer comes in.
This isn’t just about learning. It’s about shifting the way we think about mental health at work, in education and across our communities. It’s about moving beyond awareness and into action, creating environments where people are not just surviving but thriving.
listening first, then building something different
Before developing our training, we took time to reflect. We reviewed what was already available across Scotland and internationally. We spoke with people in businesses, local authorities, charities, government and schools.
The message was clear: training needed to be practical and easy to understand. It had to speak to everyday challenges, not just theoretical models.
But we also heard something else. People wanted support that would help shift the workplace culture, spark better conversations and build confidence. Training, people told us, needed to go beyond the sessions themselves.
We see this training as the first step. Our ambition is bigger than standalone sessions or training content. While training can’t solve everything, it can lay the foundation for real cultural change in Scotland.
a clear, flexible offer
For our training offer to be useful, it had to be easy for people to find what they were looking for. Whether someone is taking their first steps or looking to build on existing knowledge and grow as a leader, we wanted to make it simple to find the right starting point.
So, we split our training into four clear categories:
Mental Health Essentials
Bitesize, introductory sessions for teams or communities beginning their mental health journey. Focused on awareness, stigma and everyday conversations.
Mental Health in Practice
Deeper training that’s role-specific. Ideal for managers, team leads or people with wellbeing responsibilities who need tools they can apply immediately.
Mental Health Certified
Accredited courses like Scottish Mental Health First Aid, for those stepping into formal support roles or working in high-impact environments.
Bespoke
When off-the-shelf training isn’t the right fit, we’ll co-design something that meets your organisation’s unique needs.
who is it for and why it matters
Mental health is relevant in every setting. From business to public services, charities, community groups and education providers.
For individuals, training can offer a way to better understand and manage their own wellbeing. For teams, it builds a shared understanding of mental health and a more supportive environment. And for leaders, it provides the tools to create a healthier, more productive culture.
“We all go through periods of extreme stress. For me, things changed two years ago. I’ve since realised how much we take our mental wellbeing and resilience for granted until they are tested.
“I honestly wish I knew then what I learnt in this one bite-sized session from the brilliant team at Change Mental Health. In just one hour, it was practical, easy to digest and more helpful than anything I’ve come across in decades of business.”
Samantha Fernando, from Keela Outdoors, took part in our “Building Resilience in the Workplace” session.
the organisational case: culture and ROI
Mental health training doesn’t just benefit people. It benefits organisations too. Research from Deloitte found that for every £1 spent on mental health support, employers see an average return of £5.30 through reduced absence, turnover and improved productivity.
The 2025 Mental Health UK Burnout Report found that nearly 9 in 10 UK employees have experienced burnout in the past year. More than half said it affected their ability to stay in their current job. Yet only 1 in 3 felt their employer had taken meaningful steps to address it.
Training is part of the solution. It helps organisations retain talent, protect wellbeing and build trust. In a world where the cost of doing nothing keeps rising, building a culture that promote wellbeing and resilience has never been more urgent.
how other countries are getting it right
When we attended the Wellbeing at Work World Summit in Stockholm, it gave us the chance to hear from people working on wellbeing in different parts of the world and to reflect on some of the cultural differences.
One idea that stood out was the Swedish approach to wellness. Through their “friskvårdsbidrag” (a wellness allowance offered by employers), people are encouraged to take part in activities that support their physical and mental health. It might be yoga, a fitness app or even a massage. What matters is that wellbeing is seen as something normal and important.
There also seemed to be much more openness about physical health, sleep, nutrition and how these link to our effectiveness and happiness at work. These topics still feel awkward in many UK workplaces. It made us reflect on how we support each other at Change Mental Health and how we might broaden what it means to thrive.
The conference also sparked conversations about the future of work. New technologies, including AI, are already changing how people work. As a sector, we need to be thinking ahead about how we support people through change and uncertainty and how we equip leaders to protect wellbeing as the world of work continues to evolve.
looking ahead
We’re proud of our training offer, but we see it as just the start. The way we live and work is changing and mental health support must evolve too.
At Change Mental Health, we want to be part of shaping what comes next.
If you’re ready to explore how training could support your organisation or community, visit our Mental Health Training page. If you’d like to hear more about our training, upcoming events and news from mental health training world, sign up to our mailing list and stay connected.
We’d love to start the conversation.
support
Our Advice and Support Service is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm (closed for lunch between 12.30pm and 1.30pm), where advisers can signpost you to local support that most fits your needs, including our Change Mental Health services. We offer initial advice on money worries and help to deal with emergencies.
Contact 0808 8010 515, email us at advice@changemh.org or fill out the enquiry form on the Advice and Support Service page.
