Becoming a Mental Health First Aider

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a training course which teaches people how to identify, understand and help someone who may be experiencing a mental health issue. MHFA won’t teach you to be a therapist, but will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis – and even potentially stop a crisis from happening.

What you'll learn

You’ll learn to recognise warning signs of mental ill health and develop skills and confidence to approach and support someone while keeping yourself safe. 

You’ll also learn how to empower someone to access the support they need for recovery or successful management of symptoms. What’s more, you’ll gain an understanding how to support positive wellbeing and tackle stigma in the world around you.

Adult Mental Health First Aid

This online course qualifies you as a Mental Health First Aider, giving you:

• An in-depth understanding of mental health and the factors that can affect wellbeing
  
• 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 their employer, the NHS, or a mix

This course 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 wellbeing
  
• Confidence to support someone in distress or who may be experiencing a mental health issue

Mental Health Champion

This one day course qualifies you as an MHFA Champion, 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 wellbeing

MHFA Refresher

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 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 MHFA Refresher is only for people who have completed an Adult MHFA Two Day or One Day, or Armed Forces MHFA Two Day course.