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The platform is easy to use: I have no problems uploading sheets to the portal and the email is stress-free. My tutor is quick to reply and mark my assignments and is really helpful in her feedback.

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I enjoyed the course a lot and all the modules were informative. It has made me fall in love with hospitality even more now that I have the knowledge that I need. I’m looking forward to starting a job in the industry.

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Facultynews

The Importance of Externalising Anxiety

There are around 8.2 million cases of anxiety in the UK each year. This can range from anxious thoughts and feelings in certain situations to severe and crippling panic attacks.

Suffering from anxiety can be debilitating and – if left unchecked – can worsen to the point of mental breakdown or worse.

It’s not always possible to eliminate anxiety or anxious feelings. Some challenges are too deep-rooted or have gone on for too long. However, anxiety can be managed and reduced.

Learning to cope with anxiety is the first step in achieving this.

Studies suggest that externalising anxiety is a highly effective way of controlling it in the moment. In doing so it can reduce not only the anxious feelings but also the physiological symptoms too including brain zaps and shaking.

Creative pursuits such as painting, writing, knitting and needlecraft, model building and similar are all effective ways to externalise anxiety.

What this means is putting your energy and focus into something that has a positive output – creating something for example. Through focusing on an activity in this way, it allows the logical part of the mind to regain control and to bring the anxiety under control.

This highly effective method can be taught to almost anyone who experiences anxiety as part of ongoing support.

If you want to learn the skills and knowledge to make a difference to individuals with mental health issues, check out our mental health courses today.

The Importance of Externalising Anxiety

There are around 8.2 million cases of anxiety in the UK each year. This can range More...
Industry-relevant Skills in Mental Health

Mental health issues manifest in an almost unlimited number of ways. Although many people can experience depression the severity and how it is experienced can vary from one person to another.

Equally the causes of mental health issues can be just as varied and range from abuse or trauma to upbringing or a bad experience at school.

It’s for this reason that the mental health sector has a multi-faceted approach in supporting these individuals. Each one tackles a different piece of the puzzle.

CBT can help you challenge thoughts and feelings of worthlessness. However, counselling will be able to uncover the event in your past that established that core belief.

Gaining relevant skills will allow you to work with individuals in a specific area of mental health treatment or support.

Online courses can provide you with both the knowledge and the nationally recognised qualifications you need into work in mental health.

You will learn a host of new skills from effective communication, active listening and understanding the complexities of mental health.

Once you have qualified you will be able to start applying for roles with local mental health organisations and charities, or the local community mental health team.

Industry-relevant Skills in Mental Health

Mental health issues manifest in an almost unlimited number of ways. Although many More...

Facultyblog

The Ongoing Mental Health Crisis

The economic crash of 2008/9 had far-reaching consequences for almost every aspect of life.

Aside from banks collapsing and businesses going under, there was a tremendous human toll too in the form of unemployment and the reduction of essential services.

This was in part due to the government’s cost measures to reign in public spending and protect the economy from collapse.

There are conflicting views as to the success of those measures, both in terms of whether it protected the economy or reduced spending. However, the cut to essential services, like mental health support has had a very clear impact.

The lack of mental health support has resulted in a sharp increase in individuals with mental health issues reaching crisis point. A crisis can take on many forms but can include self-harm, attempting to harm others, attempted suicide, psychotic episodes or mental breakdown.

Some of these require hospitalisation for either whether that’s for a short period or an extended stay.

In some parts of the country, the lack of mental health provision has prompted individuals with severe challenges to commit crimes. This is so when they are arrested the police conduct a mental health assessment, often jumping the queue to get support or treatment.

While spending in this area has increased in recent years, the further impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could mean a third of the adult population could have some form of mental health issue.

The result of this is mental health professionals are in high demand. From mental health nurses to trained counsellors, there has never been a time when these professionals have been in greater need.

To learn more about the course available to start your career in mental health, click here.

The Ongoing Mental Health Crisis

The economic crash of 2008/9 had far-reaching consequences for almost every aspect of life. Aside from banks collapsing and businesses going under, there was...

READ MORE
Spotting Cries for Help

Spotting someone in distress or on the verge of a mental health crisis, before it happens, can save them from a long and difficult recovery. Or save their lives.

By training in an area of mental health, you can spot those early signs in individuals experiencing challenges and act to prevent escalation.

When we think of cries for help certain cliches spring to mind. Attempted suicide, heavy drinking, substance misuse, distancing from support groups and other self-destructive behaviour.

While these are all undoubtedly overt cries for help, they are often a last-ditch effort to get the attention of friends or family.

A cry for help can start far smaller and can link to other issues around self-esteem, self-worth or a negative experience earlier in life.

It can be subtle like, avoiding talking about themselves, or being dismissive of their achievements.

Changes in personality or a sudden shift in their attitude towards how they look. A sudden need to see friends and family or the need to organise their lives are strong indicators too. Essentially, they are getting their affairs in order.

Sleep problems, hopelessness and withdrawal are, however, far more common. Now of course, these are also signs of depression and don’t necessarily mean that the individual is on the verge of a crisis.

However, by gaining mental health qualifications you will learn how to tell the difference, and therefore know what support to offer.

By embarking on a career in mental health you will be making a significant and lasting contribution to people’s lives at a point when they need it the most.

Spotting Cries for Help

Spotting someone in distress or on the verge of a mental health crisis, before it happens, can save them from a long and difficult recovery. Or save their lives.

READ MORE
Why Study a qualification in Mental Health?

One in four adults develop mental health issues every year. Although that figure is rising and is expected to reach one in three adults within the next decade.

This rise is partly circumstantial but is also due to the greater awareness around mental health issues and the growing public dialogue.

Essentially, more people are recognising something isn’t right and want to do something about it. This positive step however only makes a difference if there is the support available.

Due to this raised awareness and identified need, there is an increasing demand for mental health professionals.

As mental health issues is a diverse term, so too are the approaches in treatment, which means you can specialise in an area that suits you.

Some may want to focus on psychotherapy, treating deep-seated mental disorders. Others may want to study talking therapies – such as CBT – to address issues of wellbeing and self-worth.

Although different approaches, they work in concert to improve the overall mental health of the individual.

Indeed, it is common for an individual with mental health issues to start with one form of therapy and transition through to others, as they learn more about themselves and their challenges.

Whatever route into mental health is best for you, several nationally recognised qualifications can get you there.

Check out the Faculty of Mental Health page for available online courses. Because your course material is waiting for you once you’ve enrolled, you can start your learning right away.

That means you can pace your learning to suit your existing commitments and ideally when you’d like to make the leap to your new career.

Why Study a qualification in Mental Health?

One in four adults develop mental health issues every year. Although that figure is rising and is expected to reach one in three adults within the next decade.

READ MORE

Facultyreviews

I have been very proud to be involved with learndirect over the past few months. Their team of dedicated support staff have ensured that all elements relating to course production are to the highest possible standard.

I have worked with the provider of this course for many years and I am in no doubt that the level of training and support which students will receive will be of an exceptional standard.

Having worked with the producer of the course, I believe that the potential for students to complete their learning journey with Learndirect will be an enriched and rewarding experience.