Mental Health First Aid.

Train as a 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.

Course Outcomes

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  

Session 1.

  • Mental Health First Aid ​and the action plan 
  • The MHFAider® role  ​and self-care 
  • Helpful and unhelpful language ​ 
  • Useful models to support the role.

Session 2

What influences mental health? ​ 
  • What is anxiety? ​ 
  • Crisis first aid 
  • Active listening and empathy ​ 
  • What are eating disorders? ​ 
  • What is self-harm? ​ 
  • What is substance misuse? ​ 

Session 3.

Applying the Mental Health First Aid action plan 
  • What is depression? ​ 
  • What is suicide? ​ 
  • Crisis first aid ​continued 
  • What is psychosis? ​ 

Takeaways

Everyone who completes the course gets:
  • A certificate of attendance to say you are an MHFAider®
  • 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
  • Three years access to the MHFAider support app®

Session 4.

Recovery and lived experience ​ 
  • Boundaries in the MHFAider® role 
  • Moving forward in the MHFAider® role ​ 
  • My MHFA action plan ​  
Next

Refresher