Mental Health First Aid

We all have mental health, just as we all have physical health. Mental ill health can strike at any time and can affect people from all walks of life.

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 it will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis – and even potentially stop a crisis from happening.

What’s more, you’ll gain an understanding of how to support positive wellbeing and tackle stigma in the world around you.

Courses

2 day Become a Mental Health First Aider

This two day 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

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

Takeaways

Everyone who completes the course gets:

  • A certificate of attendance to say you are a Mental Health First Aider
  • 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

Session 1

  • ​Why Mental Health First Aid?
  • The Mental Health First Aid action plan
  • What is mental health?
  • Impact of mental health issues
  • Stigma and discrimination
  • What is depression?
  • Symptoms of depression
  • Risk factors for depression
  • Depression in the workplace.

Session 2

  • ​Suicide figures
  • Alcohol, drugs and mental health
  • First aid for suicidal crisis
  • Non-judgemental listening skills
  • First aid for depression
  • Treatment and resources for depression
  • Self-care

Session 3

  • What is an anxiety disorder?
  • First aid for anxiety disorders
  • Crisis first aid after a traumatic event
  • Alcohol, drugs and anxiety disorders
    Treatment and resources for anxiety disorders
  • Cognitive distortions and CBT
  • Personality disorders
  • Eating disorders
  • Self-harm

Session 4

  • ​What is psychosis?
  • Risk factors for psychosis
  • Alcohol, drugs and psychosis
  • Schizophrenia
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Warning signs of developing psychosis
  • Crisis first aid for acute psychosis
  • Treatment and resources for psychosis
  • Recovery and building resources
  • Action planning for using MHFA

1 day Become a 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

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

Takeaways

​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

Session 1

  • ​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

Session 2

  • 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

½ day Become Mental Health Aware

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 wellbeing
  • 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

Takeaways

​Everyone who completes the course gets:

  • 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

Four Hour Session

  • 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

½ day Mental Health Refresher Course

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.

Format

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

​How often should MHFA England skills be refreshed?

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 MHFA Refresher course now and feel confident that you are performing your vital role safely.

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