Table 10 Description of Distress Brief Intervention Level 2 staff training

DBI Level 2 training

∙ A 2-day trainer-facilitated course produced to enable third sector community support workers to provide the DBI Level 2 response. The training course addressed four core intended learning outcomes.

Intended Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the rationale and purpose of the distress brief intervention programme.

2. Gain knowledge of distress and its contributory factors.

3. Make use of interpersonal and communication skills to provide a compassionate and empathic response to distress.

4. Learn to effectively apply a range of skills and techniques to manage distress.

Summary of training themes and activities

∙ The training provides a more in-depth understanding of the determinants of distress, appropriate responses to underlying trauma and early life adversity, understanding factors that lead to suicide risk/self-harm, as well as supporting the acquisition of new/consolidation of existing skills in providing a compassionate response to those in distress.

∙ Principles and techniques of motivational enhancement, behaviour change and distress management are addressed: including motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural approaches, planning and coping strategies. These are linked to the DBI Toolkit resources and their practical application to the development of the D-MaP is demonstrated.

∙ Key practical concerns are addressed, including responding to referrals within expected timeframes and ensuring that a person in distress is prepared for ending the 14-day period of support.

∙ Blended training delivery includes completion of a 60 min e-learning module introducing motivational interviewing, followed by a 2-day facilitator-led course including PowerPoint, group discussion, experiential and role-play formats with feedback and reflection. An activity journal, aide-memoires, handouts, and support sheets are included.