Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a training course designed to provide individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to offer initial assistance to someone experiencing a mental health crisis or struggling with mental health issues. 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 stop a crisis from happening.

In the same way we would provide first aid to someone with a physical injury, a mental health first aider can offer the same initial support using the tools gained within the course.

The training is delivered by an experienced and qualified MHFA England instructor, using a combination of presentations, group discussions and workshop activities.

Who needs this qualification?

The mental health first aid course is suitable for anyone who would like to learn more about mental health, some of the common mental health issues people may experience and support co-workers.

Why is this training important?

Mental health education empowers people to care for themselves and others by reducing stigma through understanding. Ouch hope to break down barriers to the support that people may need to stay well, recover, or manage their symptoms – to thrive in learning, work and life.

Employers have a ‘duty of care’. This means they must do all they reasonably can to support the mental health, safety, and well-being of their employees.

Course content

Session 1:

·         Mental Health First Aid and the action plan

·         The MHFAider® role

·         Self-care

·         What is Mental health?

·         Helpful and unhelpful language

·         Useful models to support the role

Session 2:

·         What influences mental health?

·         What is anxiety?

·         Crisis first aid

·         Active listening and empathy

·         What are eating disorders?

·         What is self-harm?

·         What is substance misuse?

Session 3:

·         Applying the mental health action plan

·         What is depression?

·         What is suicide?

·         Crisis first aid continued

·         What is psychosis?

Session 4:

·         Recovery and lived experience

·         Boundaries in the MHFAider® role

·         Moving forward in the MHFAider® role

·         My MHFA action plan