Making Every Contact Count (MECC) training options

Making Every Contact Count (MECC) is an approach to behaviour change that uses the millions of day to day interactions that organisations and people have with other people to support them in making positive changes to their physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Many long-terms diseases in our population are closely linked to known behavioural risk factors. Around 40% of the UK’s disability adjusted life years lost are attributable to tobacco, hypertension, alcohol, being overweight or being physically inactive.

Making changes such as stopping smoking, improving diet, increasing physical activity, losing weight and reducing alcohol consumption can help people to reduce their risk of poor health significantly. Making every contact count (MECC) is an approach to behaviour change that utilises the millions of day to day interactions that organisations and people have with other people to encourage changes in behaviour that have a positive effect on the health and wellbeing of individuals, communities and populations.

Training resources for staff are a key element of a Making Every Contact Count (MECC) programme. Ensuring staff have the skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver the right messages and information to members of the public can govern whether your programme is a success or not.

MECC is typically a 60 second opener if the conversation opportunity about a health or lifestyle topic arises. It is about listening to an individual and asking open questions to encourage thoughts about a particular health or lifestyle statement.

A number of organisations in the public and voluntary sectors have already developed MECC training resources to meet the needs of their staff and clients. A range of delivery methods for training from online e-learning packages to face-to-face training sessions can be found below:

  • National MECC eLearning training (online modules)FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE BELOW:
  • National MECC training resources:
  • Additional short eLearning modules in relation to Health and Wellbeing:
  • Health behaviours and supporting change modules and resources:
  • Peoples-uni open online courses: Public Health:
  • National Healthy Lifestyle information:
  • One You campaign:
  • Local opportunities (Somerset): ZING Somerset:
  • Healthy Somerset:
  • Somerset Choices:

To register for the MECC online eLearning module, please refer to the guidance below.

The registration process will vary slightly depending on whether you currently work for an NHS organisation. The instructions are divided into Section A for non-NHS staff and Section B for those working in the NHS.

SECTION A – Registration for Non-NHS Staff

Please use the hyperlink:to get to the e-lfh homepage.

Once you arrive at the e-lfh website using the above hyperlink above you will be taken to the e-lfh homepage (see screen 1 below) where you will then need to click on the register icon as indicated.

Screen 1

Once you have clicked register you will be taken to screen 2 below.

Screen 2

Please click register and you will then be taken to screen 3.

Screen 3

If registering with a non-NHS email you will be taken to the window as indicated in Screen 4 below.

Screen 4

Press continue as illustrated above and then you will see the window as illustrated in Screen 5 below.

Screen 5

Please note:For those non-NHS staff registering please select the job role from the drop- down box that most relates to the work you do e.g. Manager (Administrative and Clerical).Once you click register you will be taken to screen 6.

Screen 6

Please select the MECC programme and then press the submit button. You will then be sent a temporary password and username to the email address you entered earlier and will then be directed to screen 7.

Screen 7

Click accept terms and conditions and you will then be prompted to change your temporary password and will also be asked to set up several security questions after which you will then arrive at the MECC Level 1 Core Competency online learning package (please see screen 8 below).

Screen 8

Choose the top training option (Wessex, Thames Valley, Kent, Surrey and Sussex)

Screen 9

SECTION B – Registration for NHS Staff

For NHS staff you will need to follow the first three steps indicated above i.e. use the to arrive at the e-lfh homepage.

Screen 1

You will then arrive at screen 2.

Screen 2

Please click register where you will arrive at screen 3.

Screen 3

If you have an NHS email you will see screen 4.

Screen 4

Once you click register you will be taken to screen 5.

Screen 5

Once you have selected MECC from the list of learning programmes you will see Screen 6.

Screen 6

This then completes the registration process for NHS staff.