Learn more about Mental Health First Aid

Workplaces and organisations train people to offer first aid in the case of an accident or injury.  But would you know how to help if someone was experiencing mental illness, emotional trauma or distress? 

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Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a training course which teaches people how to identify, understand and help someone who may be experiencing a mental health issue.

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We all have mental health, just as we all have physical health. Mental ill health can strike at any time and can affect people from all walks of life.

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Although things are improving, stigma still exists around mental ill health. As a society, we don't tend to know how to take care of our mental health like we do our physical health. This means that people may not know how to support a friend, family member or colleague experiencing a mental health issue, or where to go for support with their own mental health.

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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.

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You’ll learn to recognise warning signs of mental ill health, and develop the skills and confidence to approach and support someone while keeping yourself safe.

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You’ll also learn how to empower someone to access the support they might need for recovery or successful management of symptoms. This could include self-help books or websites, accessing therapy services through their GP, their school or place of work, online self-referral, support groups, and more.

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What’s more, you’ll gain an understanding of how to support positive wellbeing and tackle stigma in the world around you.