This course will run over two sessions and aims to build participants' confidence when working with vulnerable people where mental health is a factor impacting their communication during engagements in the criminal justice system. 

Course Content:

By the end of the course, participants will have: 

1. Considered different perspectives on what constitutes mental health and mental ill-health. 
2. Improved knowledge of some prevalent psychiatric diagnoses from the ICD-10 and DSM 5 and their impact upon communication. 
3. Considerations related to diagnostic labels and the use of language in engagements. 
4. Explored the fundamental nature of emotional co-regulation and self-regulation to mental health and communication.
5. Considered some perspectives of people diagnosed/impacted upon by mental health conditions. 
6. Improved knowledge of the main groups of psychiatric medication and their impact on communication. 
7. Improved understanding of complex presentations: co-morbidity, concurrent mental health conditions, addiction issues and/or learning difficulties/disabilities, and 'personality disorders'. 
8. A better understanding of how to address safeguarding concerns in relation to mental health. 
9. Explored approaches to assessing the impact of mental ill-health and emotional dysregulation on communication. 
10. Increased confidence in writing up assessment findings and recommendations for adjustments to support effective participation. 
11. Explored a range of case studies of witnesses with mental health issues. 

Course aims/objectives:

The course will::

1. Build participants' knowledge and understanding in: 
   • Mental health 
   • Impact of mental health on communication
2. Build participants' confidence in working with vulnerable witnesses whose communication is impacted by MH.

It will not, in itself, equip participants to take on mental health cases. 

Course method: 

The workshop is run in the form of a small group training. The presenters will present information and will invite high levels of participation and sharing of knowledge and ideas. The approach to learning will include:

1. Direct teaching.
2. Small group topic exploration and facilitated large group discussion of findings. 
3. Exploration of different media: film, articles, books, to access different perspectives on mental health and ill-health. 
4. Use case studies and examples from intermediary reports (participants are encouraged to present aspects of their own cases). 
5. The following materials are provided: 
   • Timetable
   • Glossary of terms
   • Powerpoint presentations
   • Bibliography and further reading list