Vital training to create ‘Mental Health Ambassadors’ at Suffolk college

Health and Social Care students at a Suffolk college are getting vital Mental Health training as part of a co-produced project between not-for-profit training organisation Training For Life and regional charity Student Life.

Training For Life runs Mental Health awareness courses across the South-East and is now collaborating with One Sixth Form College in Ipswich, as part of the College’s own collaboration with Student Life.

Rachel Mitchell, a senior instructor at Training For Life, is passionate about equipping young people with the skills to deal with mental health issues in both their own lives and their peers’.

“We have worked with One for two years, but the focus now is on creating ambassadors who can be the eyes and ears on the ground spotting mental health issues among their peers and being able to help them,” explained Rachel.

“It’s really important to reduce the stigma and talk about mental health, especially now with the pandemic seeing a rise in anxiety and isolation among young people”.

Over 70 Year 13 students will be taking part in the training over a total of three days in December and January, to obtain a certificate in mental health awareness.

Rachel hopes it will become integrated into the school/college curriculum in the future and Training For Life has ambitions to start work with even younger children at a primary school level, via its ties with Student Life.

Suffolk County Councillors Christopher Hudson and James Finch secured nearly £1,000 in funding to help support the training.

Mr Hudson said: “I am very pleased to be supporting this training and it is money well spent on something which we may have underestimated.  The stress Covid is having on young people is huge and seems to be affecting people aged 15 to 25 especially.  We all need to take account of our mental health and I hope this course will have positive outcomes”.

Emma Wrigley, teacher of Health and Social Care at One, said the course will be an opportunity for students to become more alert and aware of mental health symptoms in themselves and others.

“Overall, this link-up is a fantastic opportunity for everyone involved to learn new skills” enthused Emma.

For further information on all adult and youth mental health training, please contact info@trainingforlife.org.uk