Questions and Answers

ensa 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.

The 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.

The 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.

Almost everybody in Switzerland is confronted with the subject of mental illness or at least has been in the past. The ensa first aid course is designed to help them. With the focused training they have undergone, ensa instructors provide course participants with the practical expertise they need to recognize mental problems and acute crises at an early stage in people close to them, and to intervene correctly.

Betty Kitchener and Professor Tony Jorm developed the first aid course for mental health in Canberra (Australia) in 2000/2001. Betty Kitchener is a trainer who has been affected by mental problems, while Tony Jorm is a researcher in the field of mental health. Their objective was to make non-experts better able to help when persons close to them exhibit mental difficulties. Since the course was launched, 26 other countries (as at January 2019) have acquired licences and over 2.6 million people (as at mid-2018) have completed it.

The first aid course for mental health improves knowledge of mental health, reduces stigmatizing behaviour, increases people's confidence in their ability to help and strengthens their own mental health.

You can support ensa in a variety of ways, for example by attending a first aid course for mental health or becoming an ensa instructor. We are also delighted to receive donations to the Pro Mente Sana Foundation The Pro Mente Sana Foundation is a ZEWO-certified registered charity.

If your question is not answered here, the best thing to do is e-mail us at info@ensa.swiss.

The ensa course starts off with the mediation of basic knowledge about mental health and mental illness. Together we will reflect on the frequency of mental illnesses as well as how we approach people experiencing mental health problems in our society. You get to the know the first aid for mental health in 5 steps and study the most common or most serious mental illnesses (depression, anxiety disorder, psychosis and addiction) First aid in crisis situations will be discussed and practiced throughout the course, as well as how to address and support people showing initial signs of mental health issues.

In principle anybody who is over 18 can become a first aider.

First aiders have a basic knowledge of various mental health issues and crisis. They know how to approach the affected person in their personal milieu, to help, support and inform them as well as to encourage them to seek professional help and activate additional. First aiders do not learn how to diagnose mental illnesses.

The ensa first aid course costs CHF 380, which includes the course material, certificate and ID card.

The first aid course is paid directly during the booking process on the website. The following means of payment are accepted: Postfinance, Mastercard, VISA, Paypal or TWINT.

Cancellation is possible, but the course fee is not reimbursed.

No, your registration for the ensa first aid course is always final.

In order to be admitted to the exam and obtain the certificate and the ID card, you must attend all four parts of the first aid course. An absence of maximum one hour is permitted in consultation with an instructor. Missed parts of the course cannot be made up for. If a medical certificate can be presented, the possibility of catching up on missed parts can be considered.

The ensa first aid courses are conducted by an ensa instructor. They have been prepared by specially qualified trainers of the Pro Mente Sana Foundation.

You can register for an ensa first aid course directly at Kursseite.

You can register for an ensa first aid course directly at Kursseite.

The ensa first aid course lasts for 12 hours in total. It consists of four sessions of 3 hours each.

The times vary. Full details of all courses are displayed at Kursübersicht.

Yes. After the ensa first aid course all participants receive an electronic link to a survey about the course and the exam. The exam consists of two case studies, each with 5 questions, and 5 true-or-false questions (15 questions altogether). First aiders who pass the exam are sent the ensa first aider certificate and the ensa first aider ID card by post.

We do not send out documentation in advance. You will receive the ensa manual during the course, and when you pass the exam, the ensa first aider certificate.

No preparations are necessary.

The ensa first aider certificate is valid for three years. After that, the holder must take a short refresher course to maintain its validity.

This is at the discretion of the ensa instructors, up to a maximum of 20 people. We recommend a group size between 8 and 20.

In German, French, Italian and English.

The ensa course is compliant with the regulations of the EMR (ErfahrungsMedizinisches Register). The Swiss Association of Nutritionists will certify the ensa course with 12 SVDE points from 1 January 2020.

The Swica reimburses partially the course's costs if supplementary insurance is held. Depending on the supplementary insurance, this portion can be 50% or more. Clarifications are currently being considered by other insurers regarding reimbursement.

The instructor training is carried out in two blocks. The first block of training consists of three consecutive days: On the first two days the standard ensa course is held. This gives the participants the opportunity to deepen and solidify the contents of the course. On day three, methodological/didactic inputs follow in order to prepare the participants for their role as ensa instructors. Professional inputs and background information on the development as well as the effectiveness of the course round off the programme. The participants take a short open book exam on the contents of the ensa course. The second block of training takes place about 2 weeks later and consists of two days. On these two days each prospective ensa instructors present a part of the ensa course. They receive feedback from the trainers and an evaluation of their presentation.

The preconditions are an ensa first aider certificate, an open attitude towards people suffering from mental health issues, the readiness to conduct at least three ensa first aid courses a year, plus teaching experience and good communication skills. A broad knowledge of mental illnesses and their treatment would be an advantage, as would personal or professional experience with mental health disorders.

You are already an ensa first aider. You present your suitability in an application form and submit it to the Pro Mente Sana foundation along with a brief CV via the contact form on this website. If your application is accepted, you will be trained by trainers of the Pro Mente Sana Foundation. The training lasts five days. In the first three-day part the subject matter and respective basics will be conveyed to you. Furthermore the agreement with Pro Mente Sana as a licence holder will be discussed. In the second part you will take the practical exam during two days. After passing the exam you complete three ensa courses as a prospective instructor together with an experienced ensa instructor. If you prove yourself in these three courses you will receive the yearly partner agreement, the instructor certificate and the instructor ID. You are thus entitled to conduct ensa first aid courses and receive your personal log-in on ensa.swiss in order to advertise and manage your own courses.

The 5-day training to obtain the instructor certificate includes extensive training on the content and didactics of the course by qualified ensa trainers. Included is lunch, oral and written exams and teaching material (slides presented and exercises). Costs: CHF 2'900.- (for companies on request)

In order to be admitted to the ensa instructor exam an attendance of 90% is required during training.

ensa instructors conduct 12-hour first aid courses where they train mental health first aiders.

There is an annual fee of CHF 200. This entitles you among others to use the ensa course platform, where you can advertise and administer your first aid courses and download course material from your personal login area. The participants pay also the course fees on this platform. In addition, a fee of approx. 1/3 of the course fee is due per course participant. This covers the Mental Health First Aid Australia licence costs, administration, development and quality assurance and the course material.

Payment is made against invoice. Payment in instalments is possible.

Instructor trainings are conducted by specially qualified trainers of the Pro Mente Sana Foundation.

The training lasts five days. It is divided into two parts: The first part, which lasts three days, covers the subject matter and the associated basics, discussing also the instructor agreement. In the second part, which lasts two days, you take the practical exam.

Yes, a practical exam. It consists of a teaching part of the ensa first aid course.

Instructors must conduct at least three ensa first aid courses a year to maintain their status.

The instructor agreement is a contract between the Pro Mente Sana Foundation and every ensa instructor. It settles rights and duties, such as licence and attendance fees, the minimum number of ensa first aid courses per year, the use of original course material, the safeguarding of copyrights and the course administration by ensa swiss. You can sign an agreement as an independently or not independently active instructor. Depending on the agreement you are entitled to conduct courses for companies, non-profit organisations or the broader public.

After the first three courses as a prospective instructor yes, in principle. However, we recommend inexperienced ensa instructors to conduct their initial courses in twos, until they have accumulated sufficient experience.

Companies and organizations can send employees on ensa first aid courses, or they can have courses conducted internally. Larger companies and organizations may find it beneficial to have employees trained as ensa instructors to conduct internal courses.

The Pro Mente Sana Foundation offers ensa first aid courses to companies and organizations for CHF 7,600 in the introductory phase 2019. Thereafter a first aid course costs CHF 7’600 in the non-profit sector and CHF 9’600 in the profit sector.

ensa instructor training lasts five working days, divided in a three-day and a two-day part. We are happy to disclose the costs for companies and organizations on request.

Yes. It makes particular sense in the working environment for a certain proportion of employees to have first aider expertise. The Pro Mente Sana Foundation recommends 10%. This makes a prophylactic attitude to mental health part of the corporate culture, and employees affected by mental problems can be given support at an early stage.

Yes. Companies and organizations can have first aiders trained internally by the Pro Mente Sana Foundation or by independently active instructors. Or they can have ensa instructors of their own trained, who will then conduct internal first aid courses for mental health. Licensing as an ensa instructor is personal, not linked to the company or organization. If you have any questions or queries, please contact info@ensa.swiss.