About the Course

The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) training is designed to equip participants with practical knowledge and skills to promote psychological well-being, strengthen resilience, and provide effective support to individuals and communities experiencing distress. Drawing on international guidelines such as the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings and the World Health Organization (WHO) Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), the course bridges theory with practice to ensure participants can confidently respond to mental health and psychosocial challenges in both development and humanitarian contexts.

The training explores key areas including common mental health conditions, psychosocial well-being, the MHPSS intervention pyramid, psychological first aid (PFA), community-based approaches, and specialized support for vulnerable populations. Participants will also gain skills in assessment, referral systems, crisis response, and program sustainability. A strong emphasis is placed on self-care and stress management for helpers and frontline workers, ensuring participants not only provide effective support but also safeguard their own well-being.

By the end of the training, participants will be able to identify and respond to mental health and psychosocial needs in diverse contexts and deliver appropriate psychosocial support including psychological first aid and community-based interventions.

Target Participants

This course is ideal for social workers, community health volunteers, NGO staff, teachers, humanitarian responders, faith leaders, and local authorities who are directly or indirectly engaged in supporting mental health and psychosocial well-being.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this course the participants will be able to:

• Identify and respond to mental health and psychosocial needs in different contexts.
• Provide psychological first aid and other appropriate psychosocial interventions.
• Support vulnerable and at-risk groups through tailored approaches.
• Strengthen referral pathways and collaborate effectively across multiple sectors.
• Apply tools for assessing, monitoring, and evaluating MHPSS programs.
• Design sustainable and culturally relevant MHPSS initiatives that promote community resilience and long-term well-being.

Course Duration

One week

Course Outline

Introduction to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

• Defining mental health, psychosocial well-being, and MHPSS
• Global frameworks
• Principles and ethics of psychosocial care

Workplace Stress and Mental Health

• Causes of workplace stress in banking environments
• Signs and symptoms of stress, anxiety, and burnout
• Healthy vs. unhealthy coping strategies
• Stress and productivity: the business case for well-being

Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace

• Understanding and managing emotions at work
• Building empathy in customer and colleague interactions
• Enhancing resilience through self-awareness
• Role of emotional intelligence in conflict resolution

Customer Interaction and Psychosocial Support

• Handling difficult clients with empathy and professionalism
• Communication techniques for de-escalating tense situations
• Recognizing when a client may need psychosocial support
• Maintaining professionalism under pressure

Common Mental Health Conditions

• Depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and their workplace impact
• Recognizing early warning signs in colleagues and self
• Suicide awareness and response pathways
• Reducing stigma in the banking sector

Psychological First Aid (PFA) for the Workplace

• Core principles of PFA in office settings
• Active listening and supportive communication
• Practical scenarios: supporting colleagues or clients in distress
• Knowing your limits and when to refer

Work-Life Balance and Resilience

• Strategies for maintaining a healthy work-life balance
• Time and workload management skills
• Building personal resilience and adaptability
• Techniques for preventing burnout in high-pressure roles

Supporting Vulnerable Groups in the Workplace

• Sensitivity to gender, age, and disability in banking environments
• Supporting colleagues facing personal crises
• Financial stress as a mental health factor
• Creating an inclusive workplace culture

Team Support and Peer Networks

• Peer support approaches in the workplace
• Creating safe spaces for dialogue about well-being
• Role of managers in supporting team mental health
• Encouraging a culture of openness and support

Self-Care and Personal Well-being

• Identifying personal stress triggers
• Practical relaxation and mindfulness techniques
• Nutrition, exercise, and sleep for mental health
• Developing a personalized self-care plan

Referral Pathways and Professional Support

• Identifying when professional help is needed
• Internal employee assistance programs (EAPs) and HR referral systems
• Accessing external mental health services
• Maintaining confidentiality and ethical considerations

Promoting Mental Health in the Workplace

• Mental health awareness campaigns in the workplace
• Peer champions and wellness committees
• Encouraging staff participation in well-being activities
• Corporate responsibility and employee wellness

Training Approach

This course is delivered by our seasoned trainers who have vast experience as expert professionals in their respective fields of practice. The course is taught through a mix of practical activities, presentations, group works and case studies.

Training notes and additional reference materials are provided to the participants.

Certification

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be issued a certificate.

Tailor-Made Course

We can also do this as a tailor-made course to meet organization-wide training needs.