Train as a Mental Health First Aider® and receive a three-year certification, along with access to exclusive ongoing benefits by joining the Association of Mental Health First Aiders®.

This course is ideal for those looking to become an MHFAider®, equipping you with the knowledge, awareness, and skills to recognize signs of poor mental health, confidently start a conversation, and guide individuals to appropriate support.

As part of the course, you'll join England's largest community of Mental Health First Aiders, gaining access to valuable resources, continuous learning opportunities, and 24/7 digital support to help you fulfil the role confidently, whether at work, in volunteer positions, or within the community.

Course outcomes 

As an MHFAider, you will be able to:

• Identify individuals who may be struggling with mental health and offer initial support and early intervention.
• Encourage individuals to seek professional help and other support resources.
• Apply active listening skills and demonstrate empathy.
• Engage in conversations with improved mental health literacy, addressing language and stigma.
• Understand the MHFAider role in depth, including setting boundaries and maintaining confidentiality.
• Practice self-care strategies.
• Effectively use the MHFAider Support App®.
• Access a dedicated text service provided by Shout and explore ongoing learning opportunities through MHFA England.

Format 

• This course is offered online or in person, structured into four flexible sessions, each lasting up to 3 hours and 45 minutes, and can be completed within two weeks.
• Participants will be trained over four live sessions led by an MHFA England Instructor, covering a total of 14 hours of content. The training combines instructor-led learning, group discussions, and both individual and group activities.
• Each session builds upon the previous one, helping learners gain confidence in using a Mental Health First Aid action plan to support others. To ensure a safe and supportive learning environment, class sizes are limited to 16 participants.
• We are committed to making our content as accessible and inclusive as possible.

Takeaways 

Everyone who completes this course receives:

• A workbook to support their learning throughout the training
• A digital manual for ongoing reference after the course
• A wallet-sized card featuring the Mental Health First Aid action plan
• A digital MHFAider certificate

Additionally, participants gain the opportunity to join the Association of Mental Health First Aiders, the only membership body for Mental Health First Aiders in England. Membership offers exclusive access to various resources, including:

• The MHFAider Support App®, featuring 24/7 text support, a national health services directory, and tools for self-care
• Access to the MHFA England Online Learning Hub, which provides course materials and MHFAider® guides
• Insights from individuals sharing their real-life experiences with mental health conditions
• Invitations to quarterly webinars for networking and enhancing MHFAider skills
• Monthly newsletters to stay informed on the latest community updates and news