Mental Health First Aid Course (ensa)
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.
The courses "Mental Health First Aid Course" and "First Aid Conversations for Managers" are aligned with our core values and can be delivered as part of your stay in Caux or separately.
Please note that this training is in French only.
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.
ensa First Aid courses enable lay people to approach and accompany people with psychological difficulties.
The course provides basic knowledge about mental illness in a practical way. Participants learn to recognise problems in good time, to approach them without judgement and to encourage those affected to seek professional help.
Become ensa First Aider for mental health, because doing nothing is always wrong.
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:
- recognize early signs of mental health issues
- approach individuals without judgment
- offer appropriate solutions
- and, in some cases, encourage those affected to seek professional help.
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Public: Any individual or organization which want to raise awareness of mental health and apply ensa’s principles
Completion: Exam including certificate
Delivery mode: Onsite
Organiser: Caux Foundation as a partner of ensa.
Language: French
Number of participants: 10 to 25 participants
Duration: 12 hours (excluding breaks): 2 full days or 4 half-days
Price
- CHF 380 per person for NGOs (CHF 20 discount for members of the Mental Help Club)
- CHF 480 per person for private organizations
Upcoming dates
16 & 19 November 2026 - Click here to sign up and find out more
Interested?
Please contact us for more details: EMAIL
Psychological difficulties and crises are also part of the workplace. Every second employee will show signs of mental illness at some point in their working life. If mental health suffers, performance at work also suffers leading to long-term absence and even job losses. Overworking employees costs the Swiss economy around CHF 6.5 billion a year.
By recognizing and reacting to early warning signs of mental health problems, managers can help to provide effective support to their employees. The sooner the conversation is sought, the sooner help can be provided to those affected. Taking the appropriate actions avoid human suffering and subsequent financial costs to the company.
As a manager, you will learn to pay attention to the health of your employees, to notice changes at an early stage and to react to them. You will learn the signs of mental illness and practise first aid conversations in several role plays.
Public: Groups, organizations or associations (10 - 20 participants) that want to raise awareness of mental health and apply ensa’s principles.
Completion: Confirmation of participation
Delivery mode: Onsite
Organiser: Caux Foundation as a partner of ensa.
Language: French
Duration: 3.5 hours (excluding breaks)
Price: CHF 220 per person
Interested?
Please contact us for more details: EMAIL
Upcoming dates:
Mental Health First Aid Course: 16 & 19 November 2026 - Click here to sign up and find out more
First Aid Conversations for Managers: Contact us
Goals
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.
About ensa
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.