Together we can create mentally healthy, supportive environments in schools, colleges, youth groups, communities, and families

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. 

Youth Mental Health First Aiders receive three years of certification and are invited to join the Association of Mental Health First Aiders® – England’s first and only membership body for MHFAiders. 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

£325 per person.  

Costs may vary depending on location and instructor. Contact the instructor for more information by clicking on a course below.

Learning 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®
• 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

• 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
  
   

Benefits

When young people feel their mental health is supported, they are better able to thrive. Better understanding of mental health and less stigma ripples out into communities, with the potential to improve and save lives.
 

Takeaways

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

Join the Association of Mental Health First Aiders

​Following the course, you’ll be invited to join the Association of Mental Health First Aiders. This 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 gain 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 Youth 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             

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 book for a group of people, 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 training through MHFA England®, please specify if you’ll need course materials in accessible formats.

Visit our accessibility page for more information.

 

FAQs

Got a question? Refer to our FAQs.

Course structure