Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Course
The world’s leading 2-day Mental Health First Aid course, accredited by MHFA England, training MHFAiders® to spot the signs of poor mental health, start a supportive conversation, and signpost people to the right help.
Become a certified Mental Health First Aider®
This course is perfect for anyone looking to develop the knowledge and confidence to recognise the signs that someone may be experiencing poor mental health, feel comfortable starting a conversation, and guide them towards appropriate sources of support. Completing an MHFA® course benefits more than just you.
You’re also contributing to a more understanding and supportive environment where people can feel safe to speak openly and thrive. Greater awareness of mental health and reduced stigma can have a positive ripple effect across families, workplaces and communities, helping people access support sooner and potentially improving, or even saving, lives.
What is Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid teaches learners how to offer first-level support to someone who may be experiencing poor mental health or emotional distress.
In clinical and care settings, staff may support others every day but still feel unsure about starting or responding to mental health conversations. This course provides a clear, practical framework for recognising concerns, listening without judgement, responding appropriately and guiding someone towards further support.
It does not make learners therapists, counsellors or clinicians. Instead, it helps them understand the MHFAider® role, its boundaries and when professional help may be needed.
Self-care and maintaining appropriate boundaries are also key parts of the course.
Who Is This Course For?
This course is for anyone looking to qualify as a Mental Health First Aider and is particularly valuable for workspaces and organisations seeking to build stronger, everyday support for mental health, including:
What Will Learners Gain From The Course?
Upon finishing the Mental Health First Aid course, you will have developed the knowledge and skills to support mental health conversations.
Learners will explore how to:
- Recognise signs of poor mental health
- Provide first-level support and early intervention
- Help someone identify and access professional and other sources of support
- Practise active listening and empathy
- Use more confident and informed language around mental health
- Understand stigma and how it can affect support-seeking
- Understand the MHFAider® role, including boundaries and confidentiality
- Practise self-care when supporting others
- Use the MHFAider Support App®
- Access Shout’s text support service and ongoing learning through MHFA England
- To understand the MHFAider role
For clinical and care staff, this learning can be valuable in both colleague support and wider care environments. The focus is not on taking responsibility for someone else’s mental health. It is about noticing, listening, reassuring and helping someone connect with the right support.
This Mental Health First Aid course is delivered across four sessions.
It can be delivered:
- Face-to-face
- Online
The course is delivered across four flexible 4-hour in person or online training
What Does The Course Cover?
Each session builds on the previous one, gradually developing learners’ understanding, confidence and practical skills. The course combines key concepts with opportunities to reflect, practise and apply learning to situations they may encounter in their role.
Session 1
In the first session, learners are introduced to Mental Health First Aid and the MHFAider® role. We explore what it means to offer first-level support and how the MHFAider® role works in practice. Learners are introduced to self-care, the ALGEE action plan, helpful and unhelpful language, the Frame of Reference and the Stress Container.
Session 2
In this session, we look at what influences mental health and how different experiences can affect someone’s wellbeing. We explore anxiety, crisis first aid, active listening and empathy. The session also covers eating disorders, self-harm, substance misuse and conversation practice.
Session 3
The third session continues to apply the Mental Health First Aid action plan and start to explore depression, suicide, crisis first aid, psychosis and further conversation practice.
Session 4
In the final session, we explore recovery and lived experience, giving learners a deeper understanding of what support and moving forward can look like.
Learners continue applying ALGEE and revisit boundaries within the MHFAider® role. The session also includes moving forward in the role, conversation practice, next steps and action planning.
What Will Learners Receive?
On the completion of the course, all learners receive resources to support their development and understanding ahead.
Course takeaways include:
- Workbook and digital course manual
- Digital MHFAider® certificate
- Three years’ access to the MHFAider Support App®
- Ongoing learning opportunities, resources and exclusive events
- Membership in England’s largest MHFAider® community
- Optional RSPH Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid
These resources are designed to support learners beyond the course itself. They help MHFAiders® revisit key learning, access further support and continue developing confidence in their role.
Why Choose Changing Minds Training?
At Changing Minds Training, we provide accredited training in a variety of courses, combining professional knowledge with compassion, lived experience and practical, everyday skills.
We work with organisations across the UK to deliver supportive and engaging training. Our sessions give participants the opportunity to ask questions, have open conversations and develop their confidence in an environment that feels respectful and safe.
Our Mental Health First Aid training for clinical and care teams is:
- Practical and confidence-building
- Clear about boundaries, confidentiality and signposting
- Sensitive around mental health and suicide prevention
- Relevant to emotionally demanding roles
- Supportive of staff wellbeing and self-care
- Focused on real conversations
- Delivered with care, structure and respect
The aim is to help learners feel more prepared to recognise concerns, offer first-level support and guide people towards appropriate help when it counts.
Public and private Mental Health First Aid courses
Public Courses
Our public courses are suitable for individuals and small groups who would like to join an open course. These may be delivered online or at a public venue.
This can be a useful option for individual clinical or care staff who want to become certified Mental Health First Aiders, or for smaller organisations that do not need a full private group.
Private Courses
Private courses are delivered for one organisation at your premises, chosen venue or online.
This can be especially useful for clinical and care organisations that want to train a group of staff together. Private delivery helps teams develop a shared language, a consistent approach and a clearer understanding of how Mental Health First Aid can sit within wider staff wellbeing and support structures.
The Mental Health First Aid course is available for groups of up to 16 learners.
Individual Rate
Group Rate
Is this the right course for your organisation?
Mental Health First Aid is a strong option if you want staff in your clinical or care setting to feel more confident recognising signs of poor mental health, starting supportive conversations and signposting towards appropriate help.
It can help organisations build a visible network of trained Mental Health First Aiders who understand the importance of listening, boundaries, confidentiality and self-care. For teams working in emotionally demanding environments, this can form part of a wider commitment to staff wellbeing and compassionate workplace culture.
Enquire about Mental Health First Aid training
Support your people with the skills and confidence to respond to mental health challenges. Get in touch with us today and see how we can help you and your team.
- Call Us Directly01737 632279
- Send an Emailenquiries@changingmindstraining.com
- Business Hours
Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM