Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
Courses available:​
- Half-Day: Mental Health Aware
- One-Day: Mental Health First Aid Champion
- Two- Day: Mental Health First Aider​
This youth mental health training can be attended by anyone from age 16 upwards and is relevant for people who teach, work, live with and care for 8 to 18 year olds, including young people themselves. Topics covered on the course include self-harm, eating disorders and suicide.
Research and evaluation shows that taking part in an MHFA course:
- Raises awareness and mental health literacy.
- Reduces stigma around mental ill health.
- Boosts knowledge and confidence in dealing with mental health issues.
- Encourages people to start a conversation with a person who may be experiencing a mental health issue.
- Promotes early intervention which enables recovery.
​Everyone who completes the course gets a manual to refer to whenever you need it, a workbook and a certificate of attendance.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT ON A HALF DAY YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AWARE COURSE?
An introductory three-hour session to raise awareness of young people’s mental health.
​It is designed to give:Â
- An understanding of some of the common mental health issues affecting young people.
- Skills to work more effectively with young people living with mental health issues.
- Ways to support young people with a mental health issue and relate to their experiences.
- ​A taste of the contents of the MHFA two day course.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT ON A ONE DAY YOUTH MHFA CHAMPIONS COURSE?
The one-day course qualifies you as a Youth MHFA Champion.
Youth MHFA Champions have: ​
- An understanding of common mental health issues and how they can affect young people.
- Ability to spot signs of mental ill health in young people and guide them to a place of support.
- Knowledge and confidence to advocate for mental health awareness.
- Skills to support positive wellbeing.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT ON A TWO DAY YOUTH MHFA FIRST AIDER COURSE?
Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognised two day training course which qualifies you as a MHFA First aider.
Youth Mental Health First Aiders have:
- An in depth understanding of young people’s mental health and factors that affect wellbeing.
- Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues.
- Confidence to reassure and support a young person in distress.
- Enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening.
- Knowledge to help a young person recover their health by guiding them to further support.
- Ability to support a young person with a long term mental health issue or disability to thrive.
- Tools to look after their own mental wellbeing.
