Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognised training course, designed to teach people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first aid basis. In the same way as learning physical first aid, MHFA teaches people how to recognise those crucial warning signs of mental ill health and feel confident to guide someone to appropriate support. Embedding MHFA training within any organisation or community also encourages people to talk more freely about mental health, reducing stigma and creating a more positive culture.

Becoming a Mental Health First Aider

To become a Mental Health First Aider you must complete a two day MHFA course. This is our most comprehensive awareness and skills course, which includes a mix of presentations, discussions and group work activities. For more information on the course content, please visit www.mhfaengland.org

Every MHFA course is delivered by a quality assured instructor who has completed our Instructor Training programme accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health.

Anyone can attend an MHFA course but an interest in mental health and wellbeing is desirable. When you have completed the course, you will receive a certificate to confirm that you are a trained Mental Health First Aider and a fold-out card summarising the five-step MHFA action plan to carry with you.

Outcomes and benefits

The course will:

• give a deeper understanding of the issues that impact on and relate to people’s mental health
  
• teach practical skills that can be used every day, including being able to spot the signs and symptoms of mental health issues and feel confident guiding people towards support 
  

Independent research and evaluation shows that taking part in an MHFA course:

• raises awareness and mental health literacy
  
• reduces stigma around mental health
  
• boosts knowledge and confidence in dealing with mental health issues
  
• promotes early intervention which enables recovery

The role

In general, the role of a Mental Health First Aider in the workplace is to be a point of contact for an employee who is experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress. This interaction could range from having an initial conversation through to supporting the person to get appropriate help. As well as in a crisis, Mental Health First Aiders are valuable in providing early intervention help for someone who may be developing a mental health issue.

Mental Health First Aiders are not trained to be therapists or psychiatrists but they can offer initial support through non-judgemental listening and guidance.

Mental Health First Aiders are trained to:

• Spot the early signs and symptoms of mental ill health
• Start a supportive conversation with a colleague who may be experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress
• Listen to the person non-judgementally
• Assess the risk of suicide or self-harm
• Encourage the person to access appropriate professional support or self-help strategies. This might include encouraging access to internal support systems such as EAPs or in-house counselling services
• Escalate to the appropriate emergency services, if necessary
• Maintain confidentiality as appropriate
• Complete critical incident documents as and when necessary
• Protect themselves while performing their role

At no time does the Mental Health First Aider role (or anyone trained in MHFA skills) supersede company policy: first and foremost they are all employees of the company.

Just as a company has policies and procedures in place covering what employees need to do if you suspect someone is at risk (for example, where the first step is always to escalate for advice and support), we advise putting together a policy document to outline your organisation’s approach to MHFA.

Who should go on a MHFA course?

MHFA courses are open to all but as an organisation you might want to consider the following when deciding which employees should attend the training:

− Do they have a desire to learn more about mental health and support others if required to do so?

− Will they be provided with the required time and support to attend the training and fulfil their role once trained?

− Do they have line management responsibilities which could benefit from the training?

Supporting your Mental Health First Aiders

Internal support is very important to successfully embed Mental Health First Aiders into an organisation.

Every organisation will have a different approach to how they support their Mental Health First Aiders but here are some examples of support strategies which have proven successful:

− Settng up networks (with a clear remit) for support and idea sharing (perhaps overseen by someone with a HR background)

− Putting in place a Mental Health First Aider role and policy document to ensure clarity on expectations

− Empowering Mental Health First Aiders to maintain their skills with regular refresher skills training. The recommended gap is two years, in line with physical first aid training

− Develop and promote clear referral or assistance pathways so Mental Health First Aiders can signpost effectively to support

− Increase mental health literacy across the rest of the organisation to help normalise the conversation around mental health

Promoting your Mental Health First Aiders

It is a good idea to make employees aware of who the trained Mental Health First Aiders are within the organisation so that they know who to approach if they are experiencing mental health issues. Again, how each organisation approaches this can be different but the following ideas can be considered:

− Include Mental Health First Aiders’ identities alongside the physical first aiders’ identities at key places within the office, perhaps at the photocopying stations or kitchen areas

− Include a list of Mental Health First Aiders with name, photograph and contact details on the intranet

− Provide Mental Health First Aiders lanyards or badges for easy identification

Measuring impact

We recommend identifying some KPIs to ensure you can measure the impact and outcomes of your investment in MHFA. These could be a mix of anecdotal evidence and data, for example:

− Number of people accessing EAP or other organisational assistance programmes of support

− Rate of sickness absence and return to work

- ideally tracked both before and after MHFA training has been introduced

− Staff surveys and evaluations following MHFA training sessions

− Percentage of people trained who have applied what they learned on the MHFA course

− Percentage of managers feeling more confident speaking to employees about mental health in the workplace

− Percentage increase in employees who would feel comfortable speaking to their line manager about mental health

− Number of critical incident forms filled out by trained Mental Health First Aiders

Strategic approach

MHFA training is most effective when integrated as part of a strategic approach to wellbeing. You might consider how you can:

− Position mental health as a boardroom issue, on a par with physical health

− Promote and communicate wellbeing as a key driver for productivity and maximising performance

− Make employee wellbeing a core part of line manager job responsibilities and provide appropriate time, resource and training so they can support the staff they manage

− Recruit, promote and support line managers with excellent interpersonal skills

− Support line managers to maintain their own wellbeing

− Develop and promote clear referral or assistance pathways so managers can take appropriate action to support employees

Learn how to support your colleagues and help build a healthy work place.

• Learn what mental health is and why looking after it matters
• Identify signs of distress and common triggers
• Develop your interpersonal skills
• Learn practical tools to support mental health and wellbeing
• Know when to recommend professional help
• Build a supportive and healthy work climate

Mental Health First Aid Course Overview

This information-packed 2-day course is designed to provide you with all the skills and knowledge you need to be an effective mental health first aider in your workplace.

Our course concentrates on the practical aspects of being a mental health first aider including spotting signs of distress, providing effective support and helping to build a healthier workplace.

Expected Outcomes

On completion of our Mental Heath First Aid course, you should:

• Understand what mental health is and why it matters
• Understand the factors that can affect wellbeing
• Identify signs of distress
• Develop good interpersonal skills such as non judgemental listening
• Support staff dealing in distress and support their recovery to good mental health
• Be aware of different mental illnesses
• Use practical approaches/tools that can be used to support mental health and wellbeing
• Know when to recommend further help such as from a medical professional
• Promote mental health in your workplace
• Help build a supportive, healthy and non-discriminatory work climate

Who Should Attend?

This course is for anyone who wants to support colleagues’ mental health in their workplace or has been appointed as Mental Health First Aider.

Where can I attend?

We can deliver onsite at your place of work. We can deliver remotely via Teams for your convenience.

Embedding Mental Health First Aid training into your organisation encourages people to talk more freely about mental health, promoting early intervention which enables recovery, reducing stigma and creating a positive culture.

Having a qualified Mental Health First Aider in the workplace provides a point of contact for an employee who is experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress. This interaction could range from having an initial conversation through to supporting the individual to get appropriate help in a crisis. Mental Health First Aiders can spot the signs of mental ill health and are valuable in providing early support for someone who may be developing a mental health issue.

Training options available

During this period, MHFA training has never been more important. To ensure the safety of you and your staff, we have moved our MHFA training to an online solution.

Certified Mental Health First Aider course:

Delivered through four self-directed and four tutor led sessions, ideally over a two-week period. The same certificate is awarded as for the 2-day face to face course and qualifies delegates as Mental Health First Aiders. This course is available to book your organisation (6-12 employees ) or you can book individual places on one of our open Mental Health First Aid courses.

Certified MHFA Refresher Course:

A 4-hour online course for qualified Mental Health First Aiders and Champions. It’s good practice for Mental Health First Aiders and Champions to refresh their skills, the same way physical First Aiders do. It is recommended that annual Refresher courses are attended to update skills and knowledge. This course is available to book for your organisation (6-14 employees) or you can book individual places on one of our open MHFA Refresher courses.

Certified MHFA Aware course:

This 4-hour online course is an introductory session designed to increase mental health awareness and help challenge stigma and discrimination. This course is available to book for your organisation (6-14 employees) or you can book individual places on one of our open MHFA Aware courses.

What it means to be a Mental Health First Aider

We asked some of our Mental Health First Aiders what being a Mental Health First Aider means to them, what’s expected of them and how Mental Health First Aid can benefit businesses.

Use the full range of mental health assessments to ensure that all teams are set and the organisation has enough resources to ensure that all areas of the company has met all the areas of wellbeing. The course takes all of the areas to make a complete coverage of the eLearning course for all the employees together should we need to help the challenge.

Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.

Topics Covered

• Depression and mood disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Trauma
• Psychosis
• Substance Use disorders

Mental Health First Aid teaches about recovery and resiliency – the belief that individuals experiencing these challenges can and do get better, and use their strengths to stay well.

 The Mental Health First Aid Action Plan

Assess for risk of suicide or harm

• When helping a person going through a mental health crisis, it is important to look for signs of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, non-suicidal self-injury, or other harm. Some warning signs of suicide include:Threatening to hurt or kill oneself
• Seeking access to means to hurt or kill oneself
• Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide
• Feeling hopeless
• Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities
• Increased use of alcohol or drugs
• Withdrawing from family, friends, or society
• Appearing agitated or angry
• Having a dramatic change in mood

Listen nonjudgmentally

It may seem simple, but the ability to listen and have a meaningful conversation requires skill and patience. Listening is critical in helping an individual feel respected, accepted, and understood. Mental Health First Aid teaches you to use a set of verbal and nonverbal skills such as open body posture, comfortable eye contact, and other strategies to engage in appropriate conversation.

It is important to recognize that mental illnesses and addictions are real, treatable illnesses from which people can and do recover. When talking to someone you believe may be experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, approach the conversation with respect and dignity and don’t blame the individual for his or her symptoms. Mental Health First Aid provides information and resources you can offer to someone to provide emotional support and practical help.

• There are many professionals who can offer help when someone is in crisis or may be experiencing the signs and symptoms of a mental illness or addiction.Types of Professionals
• Doctors (primary care physicians or psychiatrists)
• Social workers, counselors, and other mental health professionals
• Certified peer specialists
• Types of Professional Help
• “Talk” therapies
• MedicationIndividuals with mental illness can contribute to their own recovery and wellness through:Exercise
• Relaxation and meditation
• Participating in peer support groups
• Self-help books based on cognitive behavioral therapy
• Engaging with family, friends, faith, and other social networks

Mental Health First Aid helps you to identify potential sources of support and to practice offering these supports to the person you are helping.

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• Other professional supports

Interventions Learned

When you take a course, you learn how to apply the Mental Health First Aid action plan in a variety of situations, including when someone is experiencing:

• Panic attacks
• Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
• Nonsuicidal self-injury
• Acute psychosis (e.g., hallucinations or delusions)
• Overdose or withdrawal from alcohol or drug use
• Reaction to a traumatic event

The opportunity to practice — through role plays, scenarios, and activities — makes it easier to apply these skills in a real-life situation.