You’re offline. This is a read only version of the page.
Today, 18 June 2025, we are celebrating one year of the Association of Mental Health First Aiders®. The Association is the country’s first and only membership body dedicated to supporting the vital role of MHFAiders®.
Founded to deepen the positive impact of Mental Health First Aiders, the Association now represents one of the largest and most inclusive communities of its kind in England. Together members are transforming how we talk about and support mental health, in the workplace and beyond.
In one year alone, membership has grown to over 87,000 people, with more than 6,000 of them trained in Youth MHFA. It is one of the fastest growing membership bodies in the UK and has become a hub of connection, care, and continuous learning.
At MHFA England®, we believe that ongoing support is so vital that we offer membership for free following completion of our MHFA® and MHFA Refresher courses. We provide members with access to expert support and resources so that they can have life changing and life-saving conversations with confidence, skill, and care.
Our last MHFAider Insights Survey found:
91% believe that MHFAiders save lives, affirming the critical importance of their interventions
92% of MHFAiders say the support provided by MHFA England helps them carry out their role with confidence, skill, and care
94% believe they are helping to challenge stigma
83% say they are improving the mental health of their workplace
The Association’s impact is already visible across organisations and sectors. At First Bus, driver Andy Wyatt has transformed conversations about mental health in his depot since completing his MHFA England training.
“Before I did the course, you never heard anyone talking about mental health. Now it’s a daily conversation. People know I’m there to listen – not to fix things, but to support. It’s the best thing I ever did.”
With long-term sickness, often driven by mental ill health, now the biggest contributor to economic inactivity in the UK, and workplace stress on the rise, ongoing mental health support isn’t just a wellbeing issue, it’s a national economic imperative.
After an incredible first year, we are turning our focus to how the Association will drive and set the standards for workplace mental health. This will include developing clear, evidence-based Mental Health First Aid standards to guide best practice across all sectors, and calling for Mental Health First Aid to be a legal requirement in every workplace – just like physical first aid.
MHFAiders will be a key part of this movement, but they won’t be alone. This is a collective effort that will bring together employers, policymakers and advocates. A powerful alliance of leaders committed to transforming how mental health is supported at work. The insights, experience, and passion of our MHFAider community will help shape this future – but the responsibility lies with all of us.
As a not for profit social enterprise without shareholders, MHFA England creates mentally healthy workplaces where people, communities, and business thrive. The Association plays a crucial role in that mission, offering members access to exclusive resources, the MHFAider Support App®, expert-led webinars, peer networks, and lived experience insights that help MHFAiders feel supported long after training ends.
MHFA is one of the few workplace interventions to improve wellbeing and business outcomes. Over 20,000 organisations have trained their people in mental health knowledge, awareness, and skills over the last 17 years. When implemented with consideration and ongoing support, as part of a whole organisation approach to workplace wellbeing it can be transformative for individuals and organisations. MHFA England believes now is the time to make it a part of every workplace.
Sarah McIntosh, Chief Executive at MHFA England, says
“One year on from launching the Association of Mental Health First Aiders, we’ve proven that connection, care, and community can transform how mental health is supported in our workplaces. But we’re just getting started. The future of workplace mental health won’t be built by one organisation alone – it will take all of us. MHFAiders, employers, policymakers, and leaders at every level.
“The Association is more than a membership. It’s a movement. We want every MHFAider to feel equipped and empowered, and every employer to understand the value of sustained mental health support. We’ll be calling on business leaders, regulators and policymakers to join us in embedding prevention, early intervention, and culture change into every workplace.
“Let’s raise the standard. Let’s mandate the change. Let’s create a working world where mental health is protected, prioritised, and properly supported.”
Join the only membership community for MHFAiders. Together, we can build a society where everyone’s mental health matters.