Help create mentally healthy workplaces where people, communities, and businesses thrive
Our Mental Health First Aid course empowers MHFAiders to play a critical role in supporting people’s mental health and creating healthy working environments.
The course is ideal for anyone who’d like to gain the knowledge and skills to spot the signs of someone experiencing poor mental health, be confident to start a conversation, and signpost them to appropriate support.
MHFAiders® receive three years of certification and are invited to join the Association of Mental Health First Aiders® – England’s first and only membership body for MHFAiders. As well as access to ongoing learning and expert support, members gain the benefits of being part of a national movement for better mental health.
Learning outcomes
As an MHFAider you’ll 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
Format
The online course is structured across four sessions. Each session is a maximum of 3hrs 30mins and sessions are delivered within a two week period with an MHFA England Instructor Member, covering 14 hours of content in total.
Schedule
November 2025 – Mental Health First Aid Online Course
Live Online Session 1: Monday November 17th – 09.30 to 13.00
Live Online Session 2: Thursday November 20th – 09.30 to 13.00
Live Online Session 3: Monday November 24th – 09.30 to 13.00
Live Online Session 4: Thursday November 27th – 09.30 to 13.00
Learning takes place through a mix of instructor led training, group discussions, individual and group activities.
Each session builds on the previous, enabling the learner to gain confidence in supporting others with a Mental Health First Aid action plan.
We limit numbers to 16 people per course so that instructors can keep people safe and supported while they learn.
We strive for all of our learning content to be as accessible and inclusive as possible.
Takeaways
Everyone who completes this course gets:
- A hard copy workbook to support their learning throughout the course
- A digital manual to refer to whenever they need it after completing the course
- A wallet-sized reference card with the Mental Health First Aid action plan
- A digital MHFAider® certificate
- Access to the MHFAider Support App® for three years
- Access to ongoing learning opportunities, resources and exclusive events
- The opportunity to be part of the largest MHFAider® community in England
Course Outline
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?
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 First Aid 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
Course Attendance Fee:
MHFA England RRP: £325 + VAT per person (online public course attendance)
The course is delivered by Mind Fitness Learning
We are Mental Health First Aid England Instructor Members
Previous MHFA course attendees have said:
The course was great and really useful.
Katie – Property Management
Fascinating course. A very entertaining and extremely useful 2 days.
Phil – Logistics Manager
I think the message of hope for recovery that you interweaved throughout the two days has really equipped me to help others. Thank you so much!
Gayle – Education
I thought the course was fascinating and feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be able to participate. Thank you for a wonderful course which you led magnificently.
David – Government Department
A great two days of learning. Informative and important. Would highly recommend MHFA instructor, trainer and all round nice guy Andy Barker.
Lauren – HR Manager
