In 2019 I gave several talks and workshops across the UK on the importance of mental health first aid in the InfoSec community. This is a booklet that was created to be used alongside the workshops or the article here: https://medium.com/@_JamesStevenson/your-infosec-primer-to-mental-health-first-aid-8a5346b6da8e

1. Your Mental
Health First Aid
Toolkit
Version 1.0
This booklet is a
primer into mental
health first aid, giving
you a few more tools
for approaching mental
health experiences.

2. MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID PRINCIPLES
1 6
3
2
4
To preserve life where a
person may be a danger
to themselves or others.
To provide help to prevent the mental
health problem developing further into a
more serious state.
To promote the recovery of good mental
health.
To provide comfort to a person experiencing
a mental health problem.
To raise awareness of mental health issues
in the community.
To reduce stigma and
discrimination.
5
M e n t a l H e a l t h F i r s t A i d T o o l k i t | w r i t t e n b y J a m e s S t e v e n s o n | p a g e 1

3. List Positive and Neutral Words For Mental Health. For
example 'Mindfulness', and 'Well-being'.
List Negative Words For Mental Health. For example 'crazy',
'angry'.
#1
#2
WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH?
M e n t a l H e a l t h F i r s t A i d T o o l k i t | w r i t t e n b y J a m e s S t e v e n s o n | p a g e 2
Mental Health means something different to everyone, as we all
have our own experiences and expectations when it comes to the
topic. One of the takeaways you may have from this exercise is that
it is far easier to come up with negative words relating to Mental
Health than positive.

4. STEPS TO MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
APPROACHING SOMEONE GOING THROUGH
A MENTAL HEALTH EXPERIENCE
M e n t a l H e a l t h F i r s t A i d T o o l k i t | w r i t t e n b y J a m e s S t e v e n s o n | p a g e 3
Approach the person,
assess, and assist with
the crisis.
Give support, by
reassuring, and providing
information.
Make sure to normalise
low mood and anxiety, it
is a normal response to
an abnormal situation.
Reassure that panic will
pass.
Listen and communicate
non judgmentally.
If in doubt about
someone’s ability to keep
themselves safe you can
call 999. Once at the
hospital they will be seen
by the crisis team.
Sign Post the person to
get appropriate help.
Visiting a local GP is
normally a good first
course of action. A GP can
refer onto further support
and provide details for
local NHS services.
#1 APPROACH
#3 GIVE SUPPORT
#2 LISTEN
#4 ENCOURAGE

5. MAKING A STRESS
CONTAINER
DON'T FORGET OVERFLOWS, TAPS, AND CAUSES.
M e n t a l H e a l t h F i r s t A i d T o o l k i t | w r i t t e n b y J a m e s S t e v e n s o n | p a g e 4

6. NOTES
M e n t a l H e a l t h F i r s t A i d T o o l k i t | w r i t t e n b y J a m e s S t e v e n s o n | p a g e 5
ONE ACTION STEP FROM THIS TRAINING...
TO-DO LIST
NOTES

7. SIGNPOSTING
M e n t a l H e a l t h F i r s t A i d T o o l k i t | w r i t t e n b y J a m e s S t e v e n s o n | p a g e 6
Call: 0300 123 3393 | Text: 86463 | 9am - 6pm Mon - Fri
Provides information on types of mental health issues, where to get
help, medication and alternative treatments and advocacy.
www.samaritans.org | Call 116 123 | jo@samaritans.org | 24/7
Samaritans is aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in
emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide
throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Call: 0300 5000 927 | 9:30am - 4pm
Rethink Advice and Information Service provides practical help and
information on issues such as the Mental Health Act, community care,
benefits, debt, criminal justice and career’s rights.
NAPAC, Rape Crisis, Survivors UK, Womens Aid, Drinkline, Gamblers
Anonymous UK, Marijuana Anonymous UK, Anxiety UK, No Panic.
MIND INFOLINE
SAMARITANS
RETHINK
OTHERS

8. "UNDERSTANDING
THAT WHATEVER
SOMEONE IS
EXPERIENCING IS REAL
TO THEM."
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID