One of the questions we are asked most often is which level to book. A lot of people assume Level 1 is for staff, Level 2 is for managers and Level 3 is for directors. That is not how it works, and it can lead to the wrong people on the wrong course.
The short answer
Anyone can do any level. The right level depends on the role you want that person to play in supporting others, not on their job title or where they sit in the organisation.
It is about the role, not the rank
Some of the best people we have trained at the higher levels work on the shop floor. They are approachable, people already go to them, and they have the time and space in their day to be there for colleagues.
Some senior managers, on the other hand, do the awareness course and decide that is the right level for them, because others in the business are better placed to take on the bigger support role.
So when we help an organisation choose, we look at the people who will take on the role, and ask:
- What will you be asking this person to do?
- How much time and capacity do they have for it?
- How does the organisation want to use them?
- Would they rather start at one level and build up?
What changes between the levels
The three levels build on each other. The signs of someone struggling do not change, but the knowledge and the responsibility grow at each level, so the depth of the training and the confidence it builds grow with them.
Everyone needs to know what to do, what to say and how to say it. As the levels go up, people also need a deeper understanding of the systems behind that conversation: where to go, who to talk to, what support is in place, and the policies, procedures and legal duties that sit underneath.
Level 1 Mental Health Awareness in the Workplace
Half a day. For anyone who wants to notice when a colleague is not themselves, feel less awkward starting a conversation, and know where to point someone for support. It is a strong foundation for a whole team, and for anyone who wants to understand the subject without taking on a formal support role.
Level 2 Managing Mental Health Awareness in the Workplace
A full day. For people the organisation wants colleagues to be able to turn to. It builds confidence for the harder conversations, like when someone tells you something difficult or you are worried about them, and it goes deeper into how your organisation’s support and procedures work, so they know exactly what happens next.
Level 3 Advanced Leadership in Workplace Mental Health
Two days. The most in depth of the three, for people taking on the fullest role. That might be supporting and supervising others who are in support roles, or being the person who helps make sure the systems actually work when someone needs them. Some organisations choose Level 3 for their managers because they supervise others. Plenty choose it for people from other parts of the business too.
A quick guide
- Notice, start a conversation and know where to point someone. Consider Level 1.
- Be someone colleagues can turn to. Consider Level 2.
- Support and supervise others, and help make sure the systems work. Consider Level 3.
Most organisations use a mix
Many organisations train a wide group at Level 1, then choose people from across the business, at any level of seniority, for Levels 2 and 3. Some people start at Level 1 and move up once they know they want the role.
Awareness without systems behind it is like throwing training into an echo chamber.
People come away knowing more, but nothing changes when someone actually needs help. The levels work best when they are connected to how your organisation actually supports people.
What none of the levels do
None of these courses train people to be therapists or to diagnose anyone. The signs of different conditions often look very similar, and that is not anyone’s job at work. The job is to notice, to have a supportive conversation, and to know where to go next.
Common questions
Does Level 3 have to be for managers?
No. Anyone can do any level. It depends on the role the person will take on, not their position in the organisation.
Do people need to do Level 1 first?
No. People can go straight to the level that fits their role. Some prefer to start at Level 1 and move up.
Can the courses be delivered online?
Yes. Every level can be delivered fully online or fully in person. Each course runs one way or the other, not as a mix of people in the room and people online.
Where do you deliver the training?
All over Scotland, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Stirling, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness, and across the UK for organisations with teams in more than one place.
Is this the same as Mental Health First Aid?
It covers similar ground. There is a full explanation in our article on mental health first aid versus awareness training.
Not sure which level fits?
Tell us about your team and the people you have in mind, and we will help you work it out. You can also see all our workplace mental health training.