Train as a Mental Health First Aider® and receive three years of certification, plus access to ongoing benefits by joining the Association of Mental Health First Aiders®.
This course is ideal for individuals who would like to become an MHFAider® to gain the knowledge, awareness, 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 dedicated community of Mental Health First Aiders in England, the Association of Mental Health First Aiders, gaining access to resources, ongoing learning, and 24/7 digital support, 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.
Mental Health First Aid at MHFA England
Watch and learn why over 20,000 employers have chosen MHFA England for their Mental Health First Aid training.
Cost
We value this course at £325 per person.
Costs may vary depending on location and instructor – contact the instructor for more information by clicking on a course below.
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
Format
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.
Takeaways
Everyone who completes this course gets:
A of the 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
The opportunity to join the Association of Mental Health First Aiders, England’s first and only membership body for Mental Health First Aiders. Members will receive exclusive access to a wide range of resources, from training and qualifications to events and research. This includes:
The MHFAider Support App®. Access to features such as a 24/7 text support service, signposting to a national database of health services, and insights that teach critical self-care skills
Access to the MHFA England Online Learning Hub. This includes resources such as course manuals and MHFAider® guides
First-hand insights. Learn from real people sharing their honest and lived experiences of mental health conditions
Online networking. Invites to exclusive quarterly webinars to help your MHFAiders carry out their role with confidence, skill, and care
Monthly newsletters. MHFAiders will be kept up to date with all the latest news from our community
Becoming a qualified MHFAider®
Once you complete the Mental Health First Aid course, you can test your knowledge and build your confidence in your role as an MHFAider® with the internationally recognised MHFAider® qualification, RSPH Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid.
Join the Association of Mental Health First Aiders
When completing your MHFA course, you are invited to join England’s first and only membership body for Mental Health First Aiders, the largest community of its kind. Offering ongoing support to MHFAiders, the exclusive benefits empower our members to fulfil their roles with confidence, skill, and care.
“This refreshed course has kept all the best elements of the previous version of the course but has introduced more practice using ALGEE® in realistic conversations.
What I found most interesting and beneficial was the case studies and the videos that brought the written material to life. This was added to by the practical element of using the MHFAider Support App®; all the tools to have conversations are provided which makes the course a must do for anyone with a passion for MHFA.
Having worked with MHFA England to train and introduce over 160 MHFAiders® into our business we are continuing this journey and have already planned two courses with MHFA England using the new course content. I know that our next 32 MHFAiders® will get even more out of the course because of the new content and introduction of MHFAider Support App®.”
Evan Judge | Senior HSE Manager | South Region & ESS