Mental Health First Aid Course
Train as a Mental Health First Aider (MHFAider®) and receive three years of certification, plus access to ongoing benefits.
This course is ideal 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.
In addition to the course, you will become part of the largest MHFAider® community in England, gaining access to resources, ongoing learning and 24/7 digital support through our MHFAider Support App®, to give you the tools and knowledge you need to carry out the role effectively and confidently, whether that be in your workplace, a volunteer role, or in the community.
Our upcoming courses dates, which include 2 full day sessions:
Monday 24th March and Monday 31st March 2025
Course 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
- Know how to use the MHFAider Support App®
- Know how to access a dedicated text service provided by Shout and ongoing learning opportunities with MHFA England
Course Format
- Online course structured across two full day sessions, running from 9:30am – 5pm on both days.
- Learners will be trained over two live sessions with an MHFA England Instructor Member, covering 14 hours of content in total.
- 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.
Course 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
Becoming a qualified MHFAider®
Once you complete the Mental Health First Aid course, you can test your knowledge and build your confidence in your role as an MHFAider® with the internationally recognised MHFAider® qualification, RSPH Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid.
Meet your Trainer
Meet your dedicated and experienced tutor, Stephanie Charles, MNCPS (accd.) Stephanie is here to guide you through this learning journey, fostering an open dialogue about mental health and tackling stigma head-on. So, let’s get started. Your tutor can’t wait to meet you!
Stephanie Charles, MNCPS (accd.)
I have over 20 years’ experience as a trainer, facilitator and coach and hold accredited status the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society.
I would describe myself as being people person because people matter, and mental health is as important as physical health – right! I have a particular interest in psychology and have a genuine passion to help equip people with awareness and the tools needed to remain psychologically,
emotionally and physically well.
I have been delivering Mental Health First Aid training for several years. I am an accredited instructor with Mental Health First Aid England and an approved associate tutor with the National Centre for Suicide Prevention, Education and Training. Outside my training role I work in private practice offering counselling and psychotherapy services.
I’m a big advocate for helping break down stigma associated with mental health and believe in creating the right conditions to start a conversation – between us let’s ‘normalise’ talking about mental health.
What our clients say
This was one of the best training courses I have been on very interactive. Stephanie made the learning so easy and very relatable. I have recommended this course to so many other staff, as I think it’s well worth doing.
Steph was very welcoming, understanding and friendly. She explained in-depth information and reviewed any areas we were confused about. The trainer referred to ALGEE which means that it was easier to remember. Thank you so much Steph!
It was a very intense course. The course allowed me to understand others and myself better to see little details and learn how to approach sensitive topics. I am thankful to have been part of this training and now feel that I have the tools to help others and myself.