Survey finds Mental Health First Aid training helps trainees support their own mental health

Mental Health First Aid courses equip course attendees with the skills to better manage their own mental wellbeing – that’s according to a recent survey of over 1,785 course attendees and instructors. The survey found that over 80% of respondents now felt better able to manage their own mental health and wellbeing, with 92% of course instructors feeling their ability to manage their mental wellbeing had improved since taking the training.

The survey, which collected responses from 216 instructors and over 1,570 course delegates, asked respondents about their experiences before and after taking the Mental Health First Aid course. The results revealed that, since taking the course, 95% of instructors had supported a friend or had supported someone who was experiencing a mental health issue, with 82% of delegates also having supported someone experiencing mental ill health.

When asked about their motivations for taking the course, it was found that the majority of respondents had encountered lived experiences of mental ill health in their daily lives. More than two thirds of instructors (61%) and course delegates (65%) had personally experienced a period of mental ill health. Similarly, 92% of instructors and delegates knew a friend or loved one who had experienced mental ill health, and 95% of instructors and 84% of course delegates had worked with someone who has experienced a mental health issue.

The survey supports previous findings that taking Mental Health First Aid training can prepare trainees with the skills they need to support the mental wellbeing of their friends and co-workers, as well as providing them with the practical skills to support their own self-care.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training courses teach people to spot the symptoms of mental health issues, offer initial help and guide a person towards support. Our training is here to support you to manage wellbeing proactively and minimise the impact of mental ill health on work and life. MHFA won’t teach you to be a therapist – but it will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis – and even potentially save a life. Find out more about our training here.