Training Courses

Train as an MHFA England approved Mental Health First Aider (MHFAider®) and receive three years of certification, plus access to ongoing benefits.   

This course is ideal for individuals who would like to become an MHFAider® to gain the knowledge and skills to spot signs of people experiencing poor mental health, be confident to start a conversation and signpost a person to appropriate support.​ 

In addition to the course, you will become part of the largest MHFAider® community in England, gaining access to resources, ongoing learning and 24/7 digital support through our MHFAider Support App®, to give you the tools and knowledge you need to carry out the role effectively and confidently, whether that be in your workplace, a volunteer role, or in the community.

As an MHFAider® you will be able to: 

• Recognise those that may be experiencing poor mental health and provide them with first-level support and early intervention 
• Encourage a person to identify and access sources of professional help and other supports 
• Practise active listening and empathy 
• Have a conversation with improved mental health literacy around language and stigma 
• Discuss the MHFAider® role in depth, including boundaries and confidentiality 
• Practise self-care 
• Know how to use the MHFAider Support App® 
• Know how to access a dedicated text service provided by Shout and ongoing learning opportunities with MHFA England  

• Online or face-to-face course structured across four flexible sessions. Each session is a maximum of 3hrs 45mins and sessions can be delivered within a two week period.  
• Learners will be trained over four live sessions with an MHFA England Instructor Member, covering 14 hours of content in total.​ 
• Learning takes place through a mix of instructor led training, group discussions, individual and group activities. 
• Each session builds on the previous, enabling the learner to gain confidence in supporting others with a Mental Health First Aid action plan. 
• We limit numbers to 16 people per course so that instructors can keep people safe and supported while they learn. 
• We strive for all of our learning content to be as accessible and inclusive as possible. 

Everyone who completes this course gets: 

• A hard copy workbook to support their learning throughout the course 
• A digital manual to refer to whenever they need it​ after completing the course 
• A wallet-sized reference card with the Mental Health First Aid action plan​ 
• A digital MHFAider® certificate  
• Access to the MHFAider Support App® for three years 
• Access to ongoing learning opportunities, resources and exclusive events ​ 
• The opportunity to be part of the largest MHFAider® community in England 

This one day course qualifies you as an MHFA Champion in the workplace, giving you: 

• An understanding of common mental health issues  
• Knowledge and confidence to advocate for mental health awareness
• Ability to spot signs of mental ill health 
• Skills to support positive well-being
   

Format:

• One day face to face course
• Learning takes place through a mix of presentations, group discussions and workshop activities
• We limit numbers to 16 people per course so that the instructor can keep people safe and supported while they learn

Everyone who completes the course gets:

• A certificate of attendance to say you are an MHFA Champion
• A manual to refer to whenever you need it
• A quick reference card for the Mental Health First Aid action plan
• A workbook including a helpful toolkit to support your own mental health

COURSE CONTENT

This excellent 1 day training course is divided into 2 sections:

Morning session:

• About Mental Health First Aid.
• About mental health and stress in the workplace.  
• Stigma and discrimination.
• Depression.
• Anxiety disorders.
• Other mental health issues (eating disorders, self-harm, psychosis).
• Early warning signs of mental ill health.
• Alcohol, drugs and mental health.

Afternoon session:

• Applying the Mental Health First Aid action plan.
• Action 1: Approach the person, assess and assist with any crisis.
• Suicide.
• Action 2: Listen and communicate non-judgementally.
• Action 3: Give support and information.
• Action 4: Encourage the person to get appropriate professional help.
• Action 5: Encourage other supports.
• Recovery.
• Building a mentally healthy workplace. 
• Action planning for using MHFA.

This introductory four hour session raises awareness of mental health. It covers:

• What mental health is and how to challenge stigma.
• A basic knowledge of some common mental health issues.
• An introduction to looking after your own mental health and maintaining well-being.
• Confidence to support someone in distress or who may be experiencing a mental health issue.
   

Format:

• Half day face to face course
• Learning takes place through a mix of presentations, group discussions and workshop activities
• We limit numbers to 25 people per course so that the instructor can keep people safe and supported while they learn

Everyone who completes the will receive:

• A certificate of attendance to say you are Mental Health Aware
• A manual to refer to whenever you need it
• A workbook including a helpful toolkit to support your own mental health

This excellent 4 hour introduction to mental health training session is as follows:

• What is mental health?
• Mental Health Continuum.
• Factors which affect mental health.
• Stigma.
• Stress and stress management.
• Spotting signs of distress.
• Mental health conditions:
  • Depression.
  • Anxiety disorders.
  • Psychosis.
  • Eating disorders.
  • Suicide.
  • Self-harm.
• Recovery.
• Take 10 Together - starting a supportive conversation.
• Supporting mental health in the workplace.
• Useful statistics.
• Helpful resources.

If you are a Mental Health First Aider or MHFA Champion you have skills for life that support you and the people around you. 

We believe that mental health should be treated equally to physical health – and just like physical first aid, Mental Health First Aid training should be kept up to date.

The four hour Adult MHFA Refresher course will empower you to:

• Keep your awareness of mental health supports current.
• Update your knowledge of mental health and what influences it.
• Practice applying the Mental Health First Aid action plan.

Please note that the Adult MHFA Refresher is only for people who have previously completed an Adult MHFA Two Day or One Day course.

 

Format:

• Four hour face to face course
• Learning takes place through a mix of presentations, group discussions and workshop activities
   

Just like physical first aid, we recommend that Mental Health First Aiders and MHFA Champions attend a Refresher course every three years.

If it's time to refresh your skills, book onto an Adult MHFA Refresher course now and feel confident that you are performing your vital role safely.

This is a specialist two day course which is designed for people who have served in the armed forces, or have a very close connection with the armed forces community such as close family members, carers, and those working or volunteering to support our armed forces veterans. We are working closely with Armed Forces Charities and other organisations to deliver bespoke courses for them.

The course qualifies you as an Armed Forces Mental Health First Aider, giving you:

• An in-depth understanding of mental health and the factors that affect well-being for the armed forces community.
• Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues.
• Confidence to step in, reassure and support a person in distress.
• Enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening. 
•  Knowledge to help someone recover their health by guiding them to further support - whether that’s self-help resources, through the MOD, the NHS, support charities, or a mix.

Places on the course are restricted to serving and ex-serving personnel, their family members, and support services who work with the armed forces community.

 

Format:

• Two day face to face course across four manageable sessions.
• Learning takes place through a mix of presentations, group discussions and workshop activities.
• Each session is built around a Mental Health First Aid action plan.
• We limit numbers to 16 people per course so that the instructor can keep people safe and supported while they learn.

Everyone who completes the course receives:

• A certificate to say you are an Armed Forces Mental Health First Aider.
• An Armed Forces MHFA manual to keep and refer to whenever you need it.

This excellent 2 day training course is divided into 4 sessions:
Day 1 morning:

• Why MHFA for the armed forces community?
• Military culture.
• What is mental health?
• Stigma and discrimination.
• Mental health issues - violence and the criminal justice system.
• The five steps of Mental Health First Aid.

Day 1 afternoon:

• Suicide.
• Non-judgemental listening skills.
• Crisis first aid for suicidal behaviour.
• First aid for depression.
• Signs and symptoms of depression.
• Actions for suicidal behaviour and depression.
• Treatment and resources for depression.
• Self-care.
• Vicarious trauma and burnout.

Day 2 morning:

• Self-harm.
• Eating disorders.
• Treatment and resources for self-harm and eating disorders.
• What is psychosis?
• Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder.
• Symptoms and risk factors for psychosis.
• Crisis first aid for acute psychosis.
• Treatment and resources for psychosis.

Day 2 afternoon:

• What is anxiety?
• When is anxiety a problem?
• Signs and symptoms of anxiety.
• Alcohol, drugs and anxiety disorders.
• The impact of trauma.
• Post traumatic stress disorder.
• Crisis first aid for panic attacks.
• Crisis first aid for acute stress reaction. 
• Recovery.
• Action planning for using MHFA.

Our intensive Higher Education mental health awareness and skills course was created in consultation with leading student mental health charity Student Minds. It was piloted in 16 universities and evaluated by the University of Chester and we are working closely with colleges & universities to deliver this course for their students.

This one day course qualifies people as Higher Education MHFA Champions, giving them:

• A deeper understanding of the issues that relate to student and staff mental health.
• Skills to spot early signs of mental ill health.
• Confidence to signpost someone to support – whether that’s through self-help resources, university counselling services, the NHS, or a mix.
• Knowledge and confidence to advocate for mental health awareness.
  
   

Format:

• One day face to face course.
• Learning takes place through a mix of presentations, group discussions and workshop activities.
• We limit numbers to 16 people per course so that the instructor can keep people safe and supported while they learn.

Everyone who completes the course receives:

• A certificate of attendance to say they are a Higher Education MHFA Champion.
• A Higher Education MHFA manual to refer to whenever they need it.
• A workbook including a helpful toolkit to support their own mental health.