ensa Switzerland: First aid for mental health

ensa is the Swiss Version of the Australian Mental Health First Aid programme. It was launched in Switzerland in 2019 by the Swiss Foundation Pro Mente Sana with the support of the Beisheim Foundation. The idea is to train and empower non-experts to provide initial support to people close to them who are developing mental health issues, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem or an acute mental health crisis. In the ensa first aid course, specially trained instructors teach basic knowledge about mental health disorders in four modules of three hours each, as well as concrete first aid measures for problems and crises. Why is there a need for ensa? Every second person in Switzerland experiences a mental health issue once in their lives. Almost everybody knows someone who does not enjoy – or has at some time in the past not enjoyed – good mental health. It is important to recognize mental health problems in family members, friends or colleagues at an early stage, to proactively approach people suffering mental distress, offering their support. Because the longer we wait, the worse problems can become. ensa makes a contribution to the destigmatisation of mental illness. Information on data protection: https://ensa.swiss/de/datenschutz/