Behind the course: Making a difference by training Mental Health First Aiders

There are now over one million Mental Health First Aiders across England, but what about the people who train them? Cherelle Gardiner is an MHFA England® Instructor Member with seven years of experience delivering MHFA® training across mental health, education, retail, and disability services. She shared with MHFA England what brought her to Mental Health First Aid training, why she chose to train others, and why she believes mental health first aid matters. 

What inspired you to become an MHFA England Instructor Member? 

My mental health first aid journey began during one of the hardest periods of my life. I was in a role that severely affected my mental health, which led to acute anxiety, and eventually, I reached a point where I just couldn’t go to work at all. What stayed with me was not just how unwell I felt, but how unsure the people around me were about how to support me. Poor mental health rarely looks like the way people expect, and while I understand there was no ill intent, they simply didn’t know what to say or how to help.  

I didn’t want anyone else to experience that without having someone in their corner to support them. Becoming an Instructor Member was my way of making a difference. By equipping people with knowledge, awareness, and skills, I could help them approach mental health openly and feel confident seeking support when they needed it. I realised I could play a part in creating the change I wanted to see. 

Why is Mental Health First Aid training key to making mental health an everyday conversation? 

 Everyone comes to this training with different levels of confidence and awareness around mental health, and that’s exactly why it matters. Time and time again, I see people leave the training having gained something they didn’t have before. They gain the confidence to check in on a colleague, to notice when something seems off, and to have a conversation they might have avoided before. That shift takes mental health out of the training room and into everyday working life. 

I always say at the start of a course: you don’t need to be an expert in mental health to be here. For some people, the fear of getting something wrong is enough to keep them silent. Simply removing that one barrier can change their whole outlook. When enough people in a workplace feel that way, mental health stops being something that only gets talked about in a crisis and starts becoming part of how people look out for each other every day. 

How can you tell when MHFA training has genuinely landed with someone? 

When a learner starts to feel really comfortable. I do have learners who engage with the wider group, but not everyone does that. Some learners will direct message me and tell me how they felt about a session, or start to share their journey. Or they message me on LinkedIn and say, “Cherelle, this happened. Without having that training with you, I wouldn't have been able to deal with this situation”.  

Learners’ feedback scores usually tell me that the training has really landed for them. Sometimes I even get an email afterwards, it’s quite heartfelt and I'm like, “Oh wow, that's so nice you felt like that. I didn't even know”. And when they say they recommend the course to other people, I love that. 

What does creating a safe learning environment look like in practice? 

I try to create a safe environment from the joining instructions. Because if people don’t feel safe, they won’t contribute. I give learners a tour around Zoom and show them the functionalities so they feel comfortable using it. Not everyone’s familiar with Zoom and learners have told me this helps to reduce anxiety. I get them all to try direct messaging so they can communicate with me, and a group message so that they’re aware of the difference. Anything could be happening to anybody in the room. I could be the first point of contact, even if it’s virtual. 

I also tell people to be very mindful of what they share in the classroom. Just because it feels right now, will it feel ok tomorrow or later, after knowing that you’ve shared that personal information about yourself? 

I’m an intuitive person so I read the room. I do wellbeing checks when learners return from breaks and group activities. I’m mindful that some tasks can be triggering so I do a wellbeing check when I know something tends to be heavy. I like to share lived experience as well. Not too much, but enough to say that I’m a human before I’m an instructor. 

What have you learned about yourself as a trainer since you started? 

That I love delivering Mental Health First Aid training. I absolutely love it. Delivering the course motivates me to learn, to keep my knowledge and understanding up-to-date. Before each session, I check everything, and treat it like I’m delivering it for the first time. I attend CPD sessions and networking events internally and externally. 

I’ve learned that I want to reach more people. Being a trainer has encouraged me to continue with advocacy, really putting myself out there. I volunteer my time with different organisations to share my health and wellbeing journey. I do have conversations with individuals if they want to stay behind to talk to me at the end of the day. I don’t see myself as being defined by what I live with. So it’s important to get that across when I’m training and when I’m having these conversations with individuals in the group. 

I’m constantly using the MHFAider® role to have conversations with people. Because I want them to know that I do this for a living. And I love it. But I also want them to trust me. I want them to speak to me. I’m so glad that I have it in my toolbox, because it’s really helped me as well. 

What do you hope learners take away from your sessions once they leave the room? 

I want learners to feel confident, empowered, and equipped with the knowledge and resources to help somebody. Be it in their workplace, the community, or to help raise awareness with family and friends. I always remind learners that they don’t need to be a surgeon to save a life. We’re the first point of contact for so many people. 

I’d like to believe they leave the classroom with self-awareness as well, and a better understanding of how to take care of their own wellbeing. I want them to remember that you’re human before you put on the MHFAider hat. You can’t pour from an empty cup is what I say. Nine times out of ten, they’re doing the MHFAider role alongside another role that requires just as much attention. Both roles are equally important. I want learners to leave knowing the importance of the MHFAider role and feeling supported in it. 

I want learners to feel confident enough to use their voices because they’ve been well informed, to have a positive impact, and help to remove stigma. And I want them to leave with the willingness to continue to learn. The MHFA course is only the beginning. 

Cherelle’s story is just one example of the impact our Instructor Members make in bringing mental health into everyday conversation. Book a course today and experience their expertise for yourself.