Simulation training programme to improve the integrated response of teams in mental health crisis care

This report presents the findings of a simulation programme to improve the integrated response of teams working in mental health crisis (MHC) care. The programme consisted of the delivery of five interprofessional training courses that aimed to improve the core skills of teams working in MHC care.

Questionnaires were conducted pre-training and post-training, measuring participants' human factors using the Human Factors SKills for Healthcare Instrument, as well as self-reported learning experience using free text questions.

The results found a significant change in human factors scores across all courses. Additionally, thematic analysis of the free text questions showed that participants identified improvements in communication, teamwork and clinical knowledge across all courses, with improvements in other skills in specific courses.

Overall, the findings suggest a positive impact of the simulation programme across a range of personal and clinical skills, developing further the case for including simulation training in routine mental healthcare education programmes. Future research should consider the long-term impact of interprofessional simulation training in MHC teams to gain further insight into the efficacy of this training modality.