The Youth Mental Health First Aid course has been updated for 2025 with the latest knowledge and research. It has been redeveloped through an inclusive lens with extensive input from young people with lived experience.

This course is ideal for anyone who lives with, works with, or supports young people aged 8 to 18 and wants to gain the knowledge, awareness, and skills to spot the signs of a young person experiencing poor mental health, the confidence to start a conversation, and the tools to safeguard and signpost to appropriate support.

Train as a Youth Mental Health First Aider and you will receive three years of certification, plus access to ongoing benefits by joining the Association of Mental Health First Aiders®.

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 

Youth Mental Health First Aiders will be able to:

• Explain what mental health is ​
• Describe how to look after their own mental health and wellbeing ​
• Describe the signs of poor mental health in young people ​
• Explain some of the risk factors associated with poor mental health in young people ​
• Demonstrate how to apply the Youth MHFA action plan (ALGEE®) in a Youth Mental Health First Aid conversation ​
• Describe the role of a Youth MHFAider®
• Know how to use the MHFAider Support App®
  Note: Learners will be given temporary access to the app for the duration of their course. See below for more information on our MHFAider Support App.
• Know how to access a dedicated text service provided by Shout and ongoing learning opportunities with MHFA England

Format

• The course is available for both face-to-face and online delivery
• The course is made up of four sessions. Each session is 3.5 hours long
• We limit numbers to 16 people per course so that instructors can keep people safe and supported while they learn
  
   

Support beyond the course

Everyone who completes the course gets:

• A copy of the workbook to support their learning throughout the course
• A digital manual to refer to whenever they need it
• A wallet-sized reference card with the Youth MHFA action plan (ALGEE)
• A digital Youth MHFAider certificate valid for three years
   

​​Following the course, your will be invited to join the Association of Mental Health First Aiders – England’s first and only membership body for MHFAiders, and the largest community of its kind.

The Association of Mental Health First Aiders gives you access to exclusive resources and learning opportunities to empower them to carry out their roles effectively. 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
• The MHFA England Online Learning Hub. This includes resources such as course manuals and Youth 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 Youth MHFAiders carry out their role with confidence, skill, and care ​
• Monthly newsletters. Youth MHFAiders are kept up to date with all the latest news from our community
  
   

Accessibility

We strive to create courses and resources that everyone can access. When you book training through MHFA England®, please specify if you will need course materials in accessible formats.

Visit our accessibility page for more information.

 

FAQs

Got a question? Refer to our FAQs.

Course structure