It works, for everyone: act now!
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.
Betty Kitchener and Professor Tony Jorm developed the first aid course for mental health in Australia in 2000/2001 within the framework of the Mental Health First Aid programme. Their objective was to develop a first aid training programme for mental health problems similar to the broadly accepted principles for physical first aid (or emergency first aider courses)..
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.
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Who stands behind ensa?
keyboard_arrow_downensa is a project of the Swiss Foundation Pro Mente Sana, launched with the generous support of the Beisheim Foundation. While Pro Mente Sana works for the mental wellbeing of everybody in Switzerland, and particularly for the social and vocational integration of people with a mental impairment, the Beisheim Foundation – together with partner organizations – initiates and promotes projects to solve key societal challenges. Together we succeeded in bringing the Australian programme ‘Mental Health First Aid’ to Switzerland. -
What does "ensa" mean?
keyboard_arrow_downThe word "ensa", which comes from one of the more than 300 languages spoken by native Australians, means "answer". We are convinced that ensa delivers the answer to questions of how to help people with mental difficulties. -
What makes the concept so successful?
keyboard_arrow_downThe content of the ensa first aid course is based on scientific findings. There is no other programme whose effects have been documented by so many scientific studies in recognized specialist journals.