Mental Health First Aid & Suicide Prevention Training plus Wellbeing Solutions
Macdonald training
Our Mission
At Macdonald Training, our mission is to provide exceptional training services that empowers individuals, employers and organisations to create safer cultures without stigma and with the skills to raise awareness, spot the signs of poor mental health and intervene effectively before someone reaches the point of crisis.
We started delivering Scotland’s “gold standard” mental health first aid training and suicide prevention courses to help grow the network of people in communities who want to learn these skills and gain the confidence to change and save lives.
Gary Macdonald - Company Director and Trainer
Hello I am Gary Macdonald the company director of Macdonald Training. I have also worked for the Civil Service where my roles became directly linked to mental health as a community partner for mental health and then as the Health and Wellbeing Lead for DWP in Scotland. I have also worked for the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) as part of the distress brief intervention team.
My lived experience of poor mental health began after the loss of my mum to cancer over 30 years ago. Back then there wasn’t the support there is now to help mental wellbeing after a bereavement and men weren’t encouraged to talk about how they felt. I can say now I struggled for over two decades with depression but tried to mask it on a daily basis which was exhausting.
With the support of my wife I eventually went to the doctor, got help and started on a road to recovery.
I then became aware of See Me, Scotlands leading mental health organisation who were looking for volunteer community champions. This set me on a course of action focusing on improving mental health support at work, becoming a mental health first aider and an ASIST & Safe TALK caregiver which led to then being selected to become a qualified trainer. Then my journey took a different direction after the tragic loss of my cousin to suicide. Realising that there was a need for a support group in Glasgow that would provides a safe place for men to talk about their challenges and be listened to,I co founded MindtheMen and continue to facilitate group meetings to this day. I am very proud of all the people we have helped train and know that the impact they will have made in their communities will have changed and I’m sure saved lives.
Associate Trainer Eddie Martin
A Director, senior freelance mental health trainer for Mind-Fitt mental health training Ltd. I specialise in delivering a full suite of mental health training. I am an accredited mental health trainer for Public Health Scotland. Courses I deliver include Public Health Scotland skilled level Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA) Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). I am the first Mental Health Ambassador appointed to a professional football team in Scotland. Part of my remit is improving the mental health and well-being of our fanbase and local community.
Associate Trainer Charlotte Jones
Hi, I'm Charlotte the Suicide Prevention Lead in the Scottish Borders. In the Borders my role involves building capacity for suicide prevention through workforce development and supporting community development as well as working with key partners and stakeholders to achieve the outcomes set out in our local Mental Health Improvement and Suicide Prevention Action Plan, Creating Hope in the Scottish Borders. I am experienced in delivering a wide range of training including Self Harm and Suicide Prevention for Children and Young People and Be Suicide ALERT sessions as well as being an accredited ASIST trainer.
Associate Trainer - Norma Lang
I’m a full time trainer in a Scottish local authority with experience of delivering a range of mental health courses to staff and third sector partners, including safeTALK, ASIST, SMHFA and Ask Tell.
I also have over 10 years’ experience working in the community supporting a range of community organisations to tackle issues important to them including both physical and mental health issues.
There really is no health without mental health and I’m pleased to be able to offer training opportunities that help to challenge the stigma and discrimination that still exists around mental health and play a role in promoting and supporting positive mental wellbeing.
SMHFA Trainer - Freya Macdonald
Hello, I’m Freya Macdonald, a Mental Health First Aid Trainer and one third of Macdonald Training CIC. I am passionate about improving mental health awareness, reducing stigma and helping to prevent suicide by equipping people with the knowledge, confidence and practical skills to support others.
Before becoming a trainer, I worked with children and young people with additional support needs. This experience taught me the importance of empathy, patience and adapting my approach to meet individual needs. It also reinforced the value of creating safe, supportive environments where people feel listened to, respected and understood. These skills have become the foundation of my approach to delivering mental health training.
As a Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid Trainer, I work with individuals, workplaces and communities to develop greater understanding of mental health and build confidence in supporting someone who may be experiencing poor mental health. I strive to create engaging and welcoming learning environments where participants feel comfortable asking questions, sharing experiences and gaining practical skills they can use in everyday life.
I also support the delivery of ASIST and safeTALK training through Macdonald Training CIC, helping people recognise when someone may be struggling and providing them with the confidence to start supportive conversations and connect others with appropriate help.
My goal is to help create communities where people feel able to talk openly about their mental health, fewer people suffer in silence and more individuals have the confidence to recognise when someone needs support and respond with compassion. I am proud to be part of a social enterprise that is committed to making mental health and suicide prevention training accessible and empowering people to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
