info@harptreetraining.co.uk 
01761 221909
Search and Rescue
How can Search and Rescue teams effectively support the mental health of the their volunteers?
We provide training that helps all team members recognise the signs and symptoms of mental ill health, and a mechanism for your team to implement support when needed.
Volunteering for Search and Rescue, Mountain Rescue or other similar teams increase the likelihood of encountering or witnessing trauma of various degrees. A leading Mental Health Charity states that being a member of the emergency services increases the chance of suffering mental ill health as a result of their experiences, unpredictable hours and high pressure situations faced.
We have tailored our courses for Mental Heath for Search and Rescue to place extra emphasis on Stress and Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Traumatic Stress Disorder. Our Search and Rescue courses are delivered by our Lead Trainer, who is a Deputy Team Leader and Incident Controller, with 12 years experience of SAR.
Courses are delivered in the context of the Search and Rescue environment, by a trainer with experience of the day to day reality of volunteering for a SAR team.
Level 1 Awareness of First Aid for Mental Health Award
Suitable for all team members and trainees, this 4 hour course will enable team members to recognise signs of mental ill health in themselves and in fellow team members. It aims to reduce stigma, give the confidence to start a conversation and the knowledge of how and where to signpost and access further support.
Level 2 First Aid for Mental Health Award
This course is aimed at those with operational responsibility for others; typically Search Party Leaders or equivalent. An increased level of detail and a wider range of mental health issues are covered, along with the effects of alcohol and drugs, plus knowledge of how to implement the First Aid for Mental Health Action Plan when mental health issues are identified in team members.
Level 3 Supervising First Aid for Mental Health Award
This two day course is ideal for those with management responsibility within a team. Typically aimed at Incident controllers/commanders, Team Leaders and their Deputies and Internal Trainers. It provides detailed knowledge of a wide range of mental health conditions, the treatments that are available and how to signpost and support access to professional help. Anyone who has an ongoing responsibility for team member welfare or Mental Health for Search and Rescue should complete this course.
We run courses from our residential training centre in Somerset, or we can come to you. We can work with individual teams or stations, members from neighbouring teams or with regions or areas.
We can provide a course for you if you have 8 or more learners. Individuals or smaller groups can book onto one of our open courses, although these will not be tailored specifically for Search and Rescue.
Training outcomes include:
- A framework for effectively supporting someone with mental health problems
- Knowledge and reference material about the different types of mental health conditions
- Trained team members that can spot, talk about and support mental health
- Enabling early support to prevent mental health issues escalating
- Access to signposts and referral mechanisms for those suffering with poor mental health
- Nationally recognized and certificated training at Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 on the Ofqual Recognised Qualification Framework
Please note we are not associated with Mental Health First Aid England, MHFA or MHFA England
