Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England courses are designed to teach people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill-health and provide help on a first aid basis
Course Context
In the same way as we learn physical first aid, mental health first aid teaches you how to recognise those crucial early warning signs of mental ill-health. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the help offered to a person developing a mental health issue, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health issue or in a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate professional help is available or until the crisis appears to have passed.
This course is for individuals who would like to become an MHFAider® to gain the knowledge and skills to spot signs of people experiencing poor mental health, be confident to start a conversation and signpost a person to appropriate support.
The training is delivered by our trainers who are accredited Instructor Members, approved to deliver MHFA England* courses. They have a wealth of experience and will create a safe and inclusive learning environment for the delegates to discuss sensitive issues with support and understanding.
*Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England is a Licensed Provider of Mental Health First Aid Instructor Training in England, and their programme is accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health.
Key Benefits
The MHFA England course will:
- Reduce stigma around mental ill health
- Increase confidence to have a supportive conversation about mental health
- Promote equity and understanding around mental health from different perspectives
- Help to build supportive communities and encourage open conversations about mental health
- Reinforce the importance of self-care with tools to look after your own and others' mental health
- Facilitate early intervention and recovery, which can prevent an individual's mental health deteriorating
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.
Who Is It For?
This training is suitable for anyone in the workplace. Enlightened employers are now highlighting both physical and mental health first aiders in the same way.
MHFA England recommends that Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAiders®) attend a Refresher course every three years.
Learning outcomes
As an MHFAider® you will be able to:
- Recognise those that may be experiencing poor mental health and provide them with first-level support and early intervention
- Encourage a person to identify and access sources of professional help and other supports
- Practise active listening and empathy
- Have a conversation with improved mental health literacy around language and stigma
- Discuss the MHFAider® role in depth, including boundaries and confidentiality
- Practise self-care
- Access the MHFAider Support App® and ongoing learning opportunities with MHFA England
Course Content
The MHFA course can be delivered as a 2-day onsite course, or as a virtual course, delivered over 4 live half-day sessions.
The content is divided into four sessions, each with a focus on how to apply Mental Health First Aid Skills. Learning takes place through a mix of instructor led training, group discussions, individual and group activities. Please note that this new version of the MHFA England course (launched September 2022) does not include any individual learning modules.
MHFA conversation practice features in all 4 sessions
Session 1
Mental Health First Aid and the action plan; the MHFAider® role and self-care; helpful and unhelpful language; useful models to support the role.
Session 2
What influences mental health; anxiety; crisis first aid; active listening and empathy ; eating disorders; self-harm; substance misuse.
Session 3
Applying the Mental Health First Aid action plan; depression; suicide; crisis first aid continued; psychosis.
Session 4
Recovery and lived experience; boundaries in the MHFAider® role; moving forward in the MHFAider® role; my MHFA action plan.
Course materials include a hard copy workbook, digital manual and a wallet-sized reference card.
Upon completion of the course, participants receive a digital MHFAider® certificate; access to the MHFAider Support App® for three years, accompanied by access to ongoing MHFA England learning opportunities, resources and exclusive events.
Workplace Mental Health First Aid Half-day training
Workplace Mental Health First Aid is a 4-hour introductory mental health awareness course. Some organisations will encourage all employees to attend this training, with some participants progressing to the MHFA course which qualifies them as Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAider®).
Click here for details of the Workplace MHFA Half-day training course
Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA)
Please click here for details of Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA) 2-day course.
Testimonials for the MHFA course:
"Excellent course. Would recommend Mental Health First Aid training to everyone. Invaluable knowledge! Instructor was brilliant and had an excellent teaching technique and got everyone engaged."
"Extremely informative experience. Useful for work/home/outside, everyday life. Would recommend to anyone for a better understanding of mental health and wellbeing."
"Very interesting and informative. I will go away more confident about approaching colleagues who may be displaying signs of struggling with their mental health. Thank you."
"Very engaging and the use of real life examples supported group learning."
“The course has really helped me understand some of the behaviours of individuals in my team and has given me the confidence and resources to help and support them in future. I wish I had attended this training earlier in my career.”
Related Training Courses
Mental Health Awareness Training for Managers
Managers play a key role in supporting their team members’ physical and mental health. On this course delegates will explore factors affecting mental health and signs that someone is struggling. Sharing best practice, delegates will consider practical actions they can take to support their teams and encourage wellness and recovery in the workplace.
Read more
MHFA Champions (Adult MHFA One Day course)
Completion of this Adult MHFA One Day mental health awareness and skills course qualifies participants as adult MHFA Champions. The session is built around a mental health first aid action plan and includes a mix of presentations, group discussions and workshop activities.
Read more
Mental Health Awareness: Training for all Employees
As basic training for all in mental health awareness is considered good practice, this 1-day course is suitable for anyone working in a team environment. Focusing on the most common mental health problems, the training includes recognising signs and symptoms and advice on practical strategies to support others.
Read more
Find out more
Please get in touch with us if you have any questions.
We are always happy to talk about our courses and help you to work out the best match for your requirements.
WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY
"The quality of the training has been fantastic and our employees are really engaging with the trainer and getting something out of it. Also In Equilibrium makes the whole process very easy to arrange."
"We wanted to provide a course that taught useful and practical coping strategies that our members could put into place straight away. In Equilibrium’s experience showed us that they could provide this, and they tailored the course perfectly."
"In-Equilibrium recently presented Mental Health Awareness to Managers in all of our area offices. The training was really well received and all of the trainers were praised for their in-depth knowledge and understanding."
"The training was very well received by staff who now all intend to implement the session’s practical tips and techniques into their existing roles. A large proportion of the staff rated the facilitator and their delivery as excellent and their only recommendation was for a further and longer session!"
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