Ensure your mental health knowledge, awareness, and skills are up to date

We believe that mental health should be treated equally to physical health. Just like physical first aid, we recommend MHFAiders take the MHFA Refresher course every three years to ensure their mental health knowledge, awareness, and skills are up to date. 

This course is designed for individuals who are already certified Mental Health First Aiders or who have completed a Level 3 Qualification in Mental Health.  

Investing in the MHFA Refresher course doesn’t just benefit you. By keeping your skills sharp, you help create a healthier, more supportive environment where everyone can thrive. Better understanding of mental health and less stigma ripples out into communities, with the potential to improve and save lives. 

Completing the MHFA Refresher with us gives you ongoing membership to the Association of Mental Health First Aiders® – England’s first and only membership body of its kind. As well as access to ongoing learning and expert support, members gain the benefits of being part of a national movement for better mental health.  

Cost

£150 per person. 
 
Costs may vary depending on location and instructor. Contact the instructor for more information by clicking on a course below. Looking to book an MHFA Refresher course delivery for your workplace? Find out how to book here

Learning outcomes

By attending the course, Mental Health First Aiders will renew their skills and update their knowledge of mental health supports. They’ll learn to:  

• Recognise those who 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 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® 
• Learn beyond the course through membership of the Association of Mental Health First Aiders

 

Format

• This is a half-day course delivered either face to face or online
• 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  

In just four hours, Mental Health First Aiders will: 

• Renew their skills  
• Update their knowledge of mental health supports 
• Practise applying the MHFA action plan  

Benefits

By maintaining mental health knowledge, awareness, and skills with regular Refresher training, MHFAiders can continue to support themselves and others, as the mental health landscape evolves.  

Better understanding of mental health ripples out into communities, with the potential to improve and save lives.

 

How often should MHFA England skills be refreshed ?

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 refresher must be done within six months of the three-year renewal date.

 

I have an existing Level 3 mental health qualification. Can I refresh with you? 

As part of our vision of a nation where everyone’s mental health matters, we’re now accepting other Level 3 qualifications from other providers as entry points for our courses. 
 
This includes: 

• FutureQuals Level 3 Award in Mental Health: Workplace First Aider 
• FAA Level 3 Award in Supervising First Aid for Mental Health (RQF) 

For more information on the qualifications we accept please contact the Customer Support Team at info@mhfaengland.org 

Want to develop your expertise as an MHFAider®? 

By keeping your mental health knowledge up to date with the MHFA Refresher, you’ll be eligible to take the RSPH Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid, our internationally recognised MHFAider qualification. 

Find out more about the MHFAider® qualification 

 

Join the Association of Mental Health First Aiders 

Following the course, you’ll be invited to join the Association of Mental Health First Aiders. The Association brings MHFAiders together in one diverse and inclusive community so that together they can ignite a new era of action and transform how we talk about and support mental health. 

Members have exclusive access to a wide range of resources and learning opportunities, to empower them to fulfil their roles with confidence, skill, and care.  

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 
• Ongoing learning. Invites to exclusive quarterly webinars to help MHFAiders carry out their role with confidence, skill, and care 
• Monthly newsletters. MHFAiders are kept up to date with all the latest news from our community 

Find out more about the Association of Mental Health First Aiders  

Contact us

If you're booking as an individual, you can learn more about course options and book directly with one of our independent instructors here.

Individual booking
 

If you're looking to train eight people or more, get in touch with our workplace mental health experts to learn more and to discuss your organisation's requirements.

Group booking

Accessibility

We strive to create courses and resources that everyone can access. When you book onto a course through the MHFA England website, please fill in the ‘Accessibility requirements’ section of the booking form and tell us what you need to access the course venue and materials.

Visit our accessibility page for more information.