MHFA (Mental Health First Aid)
MHFA England Accredited Instructor
What is Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognised training course which teaches people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first aid basis.
MHFA won’t teach you to be a therapist, but just like physical first aid, it will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis.
MHFA courses are for those aged over 16. As a quality assured instructor, I have attended an Instructor Training programme accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health, and I am trained to keep people safe and supported.
What will I learn?
Learning takes place through a mix of group activities, presentations and discussions. What you learn will depend on the length of course you attend:
Two Day — Mental Health First Aid
A practical skills and awareness course designed to give you:
- A deeper understanding of mental health and the factors that can affect people’s wellbeing, including your own
- Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues
- Confidence to step in, reassure and support a person in distress
- Enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening
- Knowledge to help someone recover their health by guiding them to appropriate support
Completion of the course provides participants with access to ongoing text support for 3 years, as well as membership of a community of Mental Health First Aiders through the new MHFA app. The app provides access to continually updated resources and training opportunities, supporting First Aiders to continue to grow and develop. In these ways, the MHFA course goes well beyond a one-off training opportunity, creating an environment in which people can most effectively support the development of positive mental health for themselves and their communities on an ongoing basis.
Two Day — Youth Mental Health First Aid
A practical skills and awareness course designed to give you:
- A deeper understanding of mental health and the factors that can affect people’s wellbeing, including your own
- Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues
- Confidence to step in, reassure and support a person in distress
- Enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening
- Knowledge to help someone recover their health by guiding them to appropriate support
One Day — Youth or Adult MHFA Champions
An awareness and skills course which will teach you to:
- Recognise the main signs and symptoms of common mental health issues
- Provide initial support
- Guide a person towards appropriate professional help
- Be mindful of your own wellbeing
- Develop an understanding of how you can create and maintain a healthier workforce or community
Half Day — Youth or Adult MHFA Awareness
This 4-hour introductory session is designed to increase awareness of peoples’ mental health and some of the issues that can affect any one of us during our lifetime. It develops our capacity to be aware of both risk and protective factors that can impact on a person’s mental health. It addresses questions around how best to approach and support someone who may be experiencing mental health issues, and offers ideas around how to promote positive mental health.
When you complete your course you will get a certificate of attendance and a manual to keep and refer to whenever you need it.
How will attending an MHFA course help?
Research and evaluation shows that taking part in an MHFA course:
- Raises awareness and mental health literacy
- Reduces stigma around mental ill health
- Boosts knowledge and confidence in dealing with mental health issues
- Promotes early intervention which enables recovery
I am keen to support community initiatives that aim to expand knowledge and awareness in relation to mental health. If you are involved in any group or organisation who you feel could benefit from Mental Health First Aid training, then please contact me so that we can explore the possibility of significantly reduced course rates.
