We are proud to announce that this online training has been endorsed by the Royal College of Nursing.
Free online training for nursing and allied health professionals working with adults in primary care
One in three people attending primary care experience a mental health problem, but only 24% of them will receive treatment.
This training film aims to make it easier for healthcare professionals working in primary care to recognise when a patient in their care has a common mental health problem, and to know what to do next.
This film has been developed by the Charlie Waller Trust in partnership with NHS England South East. Content has been adapted from training that is endorsed by the Royal College of Nursing. You can download an accompanying handout which has some reflective questions useful for revalidation.
Frequently asked questions
Most people with a mental illness in England are dealt with in primary care, yet mental illness is unrecognised in two thirds of those attending. Patients may visit a healthcare professional in primary care and discuss other concerns that are impacting on, or are related to, their mental health. It is the responsibility of healthcare professionals working in primary care to identify common mental health problems, assess the severity, provide relevant information, and offer the correct treatment options. This film has been made to guide healthcare professionals through this process.
- The conditions that are defined as common mental health problems
- How to screen for depression and anxiety
- How to use the tools designed to assess the severity of depression
- How to assess suicide risk
- The treatments available for common mental health problems
- The agencies that offer treatment for common mental health problems
You can just watch it straight through on your own or with colleagues.
If you prefer, you can use it for training a group of staff – there are handouts and notes for facilitators which are free to download.
If you would like any advice about how to facilitate sessions, please contact sheila.hardy@charliewaller.org
The film was produced by the Charlie Waller Trust and NHS England South East. It was adapted from training endorsed by the Royal College of Nursing and delivered by Dr Sheila Hardy, Charlie Waller’s nursing lead.
- Very well presented. Excellent communicator and exceptional knowledge
- I have learned more than I thought I would – some very good tips
- All relevant to my daily practice
- Good overview, easy to follow
Download the handouts by clicking on the images below:
Shorter film clips
The main training film can be viewed in full at the top of this page. It is a 26-minute film.
If you’d rather focus on a particular section of the training, you may prefer to watch the training across four parts below instead:
Part 1: Common mental health problems
Part 3: Identifying the risk of suicide
Part 2: Responsibility of primary care
Part 4: Treatments
Some important notes
- Nurse involvement: Dr Sheila Hardy, author of this training, is a dual qualified nurse, both RGN and RMN
- Service user experience: Dr Sheila Hardy, author of this training, has been involved in research with service users and has many years of practice treating people with depression and anxiety in primary care. There is a service user’s perspective included in the film.
- There is no conflict of interest in the delivery of this training
- Copyright ownership is shared jointly between Charlie Waller Trust and NHS England South East
- UK-wide relevance: This resource was developed by Charlie Waller Trust and NHS England South East, but we fully intend it to be of relevance to the whole of England as well as to the other UK devolved nations
- This training is due for review in 2024
With thanks to The Beaulieu Beaufort Foundation for funding the film’s production.
Interested in more online training opportunities?
Take a look at our PH-SMI training film, about how to improve the physical health of people with severe mental illness