The statistics on mental health are deeply alarming: one in two individuals will experience mental health issues at some point in their lives, and nine out of ten people know someone affected and want to help.
But how can we offer support? Ensa's first aid courses equip ordinary people with the skills to approach individuals facing mental health challenges and provide first aid.
As a partner of ensa, the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation is pleased to offer a course at the Caux Palace, which will take place on the 16 and 19 November 2026.
Information on the course
- Date: Monday 16 and Thursday 19 November, from 9:15 until 12:45 and from 13:45 until 17:15 (12 hours in total)
- Location: Caux Palace - Rue du Panorama, 2 - 1824 Caux
- Language: French
- Price: CHF 380.- (CHF 20.- discount for members of the Mental Help Club)
- Number of participants: 10 to 25
- Public : Any individual who wants to raise awareness of mental health and apply ensa's principles.
IMPORTANT: For participants based in Geneva and with a Swiss contract, please note that it is possible to obtain a subsidy from the canton of Geneva through the Chèque Annuel de Formation (CAF) programme. More information on the subsidy and eligibility criteria is available here.
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At the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation, we believe that a successful learning process involves the whole person. Over the last few decades, the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation has developed and applied a range of practices and tools that reflect its mission to inspire, equip and connect individuals, groups and organizations to engage effectively and innovatively in the promotion of trust, ethical leadership, sustainable living and human security.
Objectives and deliverables
The training offers practical knowledge of mental health disorders through lectures, hands-on exercises and role-play.
By the end of the course, participants will have learned to:
- recognise early signs of mental health issues,
- approach individuals without judgment,
- offer appropriate solutions,
- and, in some cases, encourage those affected to seek professional help.
After the course, you will take an online exam, and once you have passed it, you will receive your ensa first aid certificate by email.
COURSE FACILITATOR
ANNE-CATHERINE SUTERMEISTER, Head of Community Engagement - Switzerland, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
Anne-Catherine Sutermeister has worked in the cultural sector for more than 25 years. She worked in cultural organisations (Théâtre de Vidy-Lausanne, Bibliothèque cantonale universitaire, Théâtre du Jorat), in higher education (La Manufacture in Lausanne and HEAD-Geneva), in cultural policy (Canton of Berne, Pro Helvetia Foundation Board, State of Valais), and as a consultant and trainer (MAS in cultural management at the University of Lausanne/Geneva), which gives her a global view of the cultural sector. In 2019, she took a sabbatical in South-East Asia and Australia, meeting artists and cultural managers and interviewing them to learn more about their realities and best practices. At the same time, she completed her yoga practice by training to become a yoga teacher. She is interested in mental health issues and trained in mental health first aid.
INTERESTED? YOU CAN SIGN UP HERE
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About ENSA and the Caux Foundation
ensa is a project of the Swiss Pro Mente Sana Foundation, made possible by the generous support of the Beisheim and Ernst Göhner Foundations. While Pro Mente Sana is committed to the mental health of all people in Switzerland, and in particular to the social and professional integration of people suffering from mental disorders, the Beisheim Foundation, in collaboration with partner organisations, initiates and supports projects aimed at tackling major social challenges. Together, they have joined forces to bring the Australian Mental Health First Aid programme to Switzerland. The Ernst Göhner Foundation supported the implementation of ensa in French-speaking Switzerland. The word ‘ensa’ comes from one of Australia's 300 indigenous languages and means ‘response’ to help people affected by mental health problems. The content of the first aid course is based on scientific data. There is currently no other programme whose effect has been attested to by so many scientific studies published in recognised professional journals.
Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation is a Swiss private charitable foundation with its centre for dialogue and peacebuilding, the Caux Palace, in Caux, above Montreux, Switzerland. Its mission is to provide a safe and privileged space to inspire, equip and connect individuals, groups and organisations from around the globe to engage effectively and innovatively in the promotion of trust, ethical leadership, sustainable living and human security.
