STA has launched a new free Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme designed to help aquatic professionals recognise, support and appropriately signpost people who may be experiencing mental health challenges.

Spot, Support, Signpost: Mental Health for Aquatic Professionals has been developed using Mind’s licensed mental health content for sport and physical activity courses and qualifications, making STA one of the first organisations to launch an aquatics-led training programme using this newly developed content.

The online CPD has also been endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), reflecting its alignment with the updated mental health requirements across CIMSPA’s Professional Standards. It has been designed for swimming teachers, pool lifeguards, swim managers, aquacise instructors and other aquatic professionals, helping them build the confidence to recognise when someone may be struggling, understand the limits of their professional role and know how to signpost individuals to appropriate specialist support.

Importantly, the programme also encourages learners to reflect on their own wellbeing, recognising that those working within the aquatics sector also need the knowledge and confidence to look after their own mental health.

Kayle Brightwell, Director of Education at STA, said: “Aquatic professionals work with people of all ages and backgrounds every day. While they are not expected to become mental health specialists, they are often trusted individuals who may be among the first to notice when someone is struggling.

This CPD has been developed to give our workforce the confidence to recognise the signs, provide appropriate immediate support within their professional boundaries and, importantly, know where and how to signpost people to specialist services.

Just as importantly, we also want aquatic professionals to prioritise their own wellbeing. Looking after others can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with responsibility, so understanding how to maintain positive mental health is equally valuable.

By making this CPD available free of charge, we hope as many aquatic professionals as possible will benefit from this important learning and help create even more supportive, inclusive and healthier aquatic environments.”

Hayley Jarvis, Head of Physical Activity at Mind said: “Being physically active can have a positive impact on our mental wellbeing and can help people better manage their mental health. But it’s also so important that those delivering activities feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to any mental health concerns they have.

We’re delighted that STA is the first aquatics organisation to launch a training programme using Mind’s licensed mental health content. By creating supportive and informed environments it allows more people to benefit from being active. We’re grateful to Sport England and National Lottery players for their support in making this work possible.”

The flexible online programme allows learners to complete the training at their own pace and revisit the content whenever they need a refresher.

The launch reinforces STA’s ongoing commitment to supporting not only technical excellence within the aquatics workforce but also the wider wellbeing of those delivering aquatic activity across the UK.

All aquatic professionals can enrol on the free Spot, Support, Signpost: Mental Health for Aquatic Professionals CPD today!

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