Overview
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a training course designed to provide individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to offer initial assistance to someone experiencing a mental health crisis or struggling with mental health issues. 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.
In the same way we would provide first aid to someone with a physical injury, a mental health first aider can offer the same initial support using the tools gained within the course.
The training is delivered by an experienced and qualified MHFA England instructor, using a combination of presentations, group discussions and workshop activities.
Who needs this qualification?
The Mental Health First Aid course is suitable for anyone who would like to learn more about mental health, some of the common mental health issues people may experience and support co-workers.
Why is this training important?
Mental health education empowers people to care for themselves and others by reducing stigma through understanding. Ouch hope to break down barriers to the support that people may need to stay well, recover, or manage their symptoms – to thrive in learning, work and life.
Employers have a ‘duty of care’. This means they must do all they reasonably can to support the mental health, safety, and well-being of their employees.
Course content
Session 1:
Mental Health First Aid and the action plan
The MHFAider® role
Self-care
What is mental health?
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 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
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
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
PRICE: