MHFA - become an instructor
"Thoroughly enjoyable course. Outstanding trainers, extremely approachable & supportive - recommend." Nov 11
"A life changing experience."
"Loved learning, facilitators very approachable, friendly, competent, knowledgeable and throrough. Thank you for your support and encouragement!"
"Great for skills development. Very well facilitated. A really good group experience. Excellent knowledge building."
Mental health first aid is an internationally recognised course. Through group discussion and exercises the facilitators teach how to give help to someone experiencing mental ill health before professional help is obtained.
An MHFA course will teach you to:
- Spot the early signs of a mental health problem
- Feel confident helping someone experiencing a problem
- Provide help on a first aid basis
- Help prevent someone from hurting themselves or others
- Help stop a mental illness from getting worse
- Help someone recover faster
- Guide someone towards the right support
- Reduce the stigma of mental health problems
MHFA does not teach people to be therapists. However it does teach people how to recognise the symptoms of mental health problems, how to provide initial help and how to guide a person towards appropriate professional help.
By training "mental health first aiders" within the community and the workplace, MHFA aims to tackle the prejudice and stigma traditionally associated with mental health problems, and to improve outcomes for their families who are affected.
Costs:
The full 7 day training programme is accreditied by the Royal Society for Public Health. It costs £2,130 plus VAT. Discounts may be available in exceptional circumstances, see application form for details.
This covers the 7 days training, the instructors toolkit, a marketing toolkit, the course manual and DVD, log in and advertising on this website and one to one mentor support throughout training and a year afterwards. The first two days of the training will cover the MHFA course and you can gain 3 credits at Level 3 from the Open College Network on completion of a workbook.
There is also an annual membership of £60.
Instructor training feedback:
86-90% of people rated the National Trainers as very good
99% of people rated the MHFA instructor training programme as good or very good
99% of people rated the MHFA instructor kit as good or very good
Following the 7 days training, instructors are required to co-deliver 2 MHFA courses within a year to become approved. Both instructors can count these courses. A longer period may be agreed with the instructor's mentor at the mentors discretion.
After this, instructors are asked to deliver (co-delivery is encouraged, and again both instructors can count these courses) 2 MHFA courses in each subsequent year after approval.
The MHFA course can be delivered to a maximum number of 16 participants.
Additionally, instructors are required to pay an annual membership fee (£60 for 2012/2013) and attend one CPD training event per year. (Please click here for details and costs of this years MHFA CPD training events).
Below you will find all the documents you need for further information on applying to become an MHFA instructor.
Flyers to promote the MHFA Instructor Training Programme - A4 size and A5 size
(Please note that all links open in a new window. If you have any problems or would like the documents below emailed to you instead please contact: info@mhfaengland.org Please download the latest version of Adobe Reader here to minimise problems).
MHFA instructor training programme:
Schedule for the 7 day training programme, click here (pdf)
Application criteria please click here (pdf) here (text only)
MHFA instructor training programme application form please click here (pdf) here (text only) (When you have completed the form please 'Save As' and email it to us.)
Example letter of support needed if your application is being sponsored by an organisation please click here (pdf) here (text only) or Reference letter if you are self employed - click here (pdf)
MHFA Instructor training extension programme:
If you're already an approved Youth MHFA Instructor you can apply to deliver the MHFA course as well. The cost is £1,240 plus VAT
The application form can found here.
The training lasts between 3-5 days, these being the start of a seven day training programme, details and dates found below.
MHFA instructor training
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- Location
- London, A7-13
- Date
- 11th June 2013
Seven day MHFA instructor training A7-13 in London. Dates: 11, 12, 13, 24, 25 Jun and 9, 10 Jul 2013
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- Location
- Birmingham, A9-13
- Date
- 2nd July 2013
Seven day MHFA instructor training A9-13 in Birmingham. Dates: 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 29, 30 Jul 2013
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- Location
- Newcastle, A11-13
- Date
- 17th September 2013
Seven day MHFA instructor training A11-13 in Newcastle. Dates: 17, 18, 19 Sep and 2, 3, 15, 16 Oct 2013
