Physical first aid courses teach you the initial help to give to an injured person if professional help isn't required or before professional help is accessed. You may help someone up after they've fallen, you may need to check on a bruise, or you may need to call for medical assistance if a wrist is broken. The same applies to Mental Health First Aid (MHFA®). It is the support given to someone experiencing poor mental health if professional help isn't required or before professional help is accessed. You may need to check someone is okay, you may need to refer them to other supports, or you may need to seek immediate professional help.
Just like physical first aid, this course does not teach people, or qualify them, to be a professional such as a therapist, counsellor, or diagnostician. MHFA® takes a holistic person-centred appraoch to mental health.
The MHFA® programme was created in Australia in 2000. It was first adopted outside Australia in 2003 by the Scottish government and then by England in 2006. Further information can be found on the MHFA International website mhfainternational.org.
The course won’t teach you to become a therapist but just like physical first aid, it will teach you the skills to listen, reassure and respond, even in times of crisis.
Learning can take place via an online platform or face to face in a training environment with a variety of group activities presentations and discussions.
Learn about MHFA England’s® vision and mission by watching this Youtube clip.
Mental Health Aware:
This 4 hour session online Mental Health Aware course is delivered by The Recovery College.
Wednesday 18th November 2026 11am - 3pm
Please email bchft.mhfaenquiries@nhs.net stating which course and dates are of interest, to request a booking form and course costs.
More dates to be released soon.
MHFA®
Why become a MHFAider®? (see flyer)
By training with us you will gain:
- A deeper understanding of mental health and the factors that can affect people's wellbeing
- Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues
- The confidence to step in and support someone to recover their health by guiding them to appropriate support
- Enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening
- Knowledge to help someone recover their health by guiding them to further support- whether thats self-help resources, through their employer, the NHS or a mix
Mental Health Aware
This course raises awareness of mental health. It covers:
- What mental health is and how to challenge stigma
- A basic knowledge of some common mental health issues
- An introduction to looking after your own mental health and maintaining wellbeing
- Confidence to support someone in distress or who may be experiencing a mental health issue
MHFA® Refresher
If you are a MHFAider® you have skills for life to support yourself and the people around you. Just like physical first aid, MHFA® training should be kept up to date.
The four hour MHFA® Refresher course will:
- Keep your awareness of mental health supports current
- Update your knowledge of mental health and what influences it
- Practice applying the MHFA action plan
*The Recovery College offers fully funded Mental Health aware courses, as well as a varied curriculum for all Recovery College Students. Please enquire how to register on bchft.mhfaenquiries@nhs.net*
|
Mental Health First Aid training is co-ordinated by The Recovery College. Mental Health First Aid instructors: Kerry Wilkes Liane Howe Rhiannon Thompson Athena Mighty Doreen Till Teresa Poole Sue Longmore Ann Davies |
If you have any questions around Mental Health First Aid then please don't hesitate to contact us on-
Email: bchft.mhfaenquiries@nhs.net
K.Skelding, Occupational Therapist | Wolverhampton Council
This training exceeded my expectations as it made me think about my own mental health more. I was hoping to gain more confidence in supporting others with poor mental health from a work perspective but from the training I am thinking about the bigger picture which includes my well-being. Mental Health Aware
M.Toor, Administrator | Wolverhampton Healthy Minds
I have enjoyed the Mental health training course. I have learnt so much regarding the tool kit, stigmas etc. I have gained a more knowledge on recognising the different signs of Mental Health. Mental Health Aware
L.Storer, Company Buyer | Nuneaton Signs
I thought attending the course would be completely out of my comfort zone & I would struggle to complete the two days, however within a few minutes of being there both instructors put my mind at ease. Talking about mental health & feelings does not come easy to me but we had such a lovely group it made it very easy to relax and be more open. I have taken away a huge amount from the course & feel confident to apply what I’ve learnt if it is needed in the workplace or other situations. Mental Health Aware
K.Curphey, Paramedic | West Midlands Ambulance Service
I found the training really informative and well delivered. It has given me more confidence in dealing with mental health illness both at work and within my family/friends network. The manual is also really good with lots of information in it, I’m still reading through it, thank you. Mental Health First Aid
Paramedic | West Midlands Ambulance Service
Very informative and well lead course, subjects were covered fully and further discussion was supported and encouraged. Probably the most useful and informative course I have attended for sometime, coupled with the SFA course attended a couple weeks ago I feel more confident to support others and look at my own well being in more detail. Keep up the great work both. Mental Health First Aid
S.McGrory, Secure Bank Trust
The training was a really good reminder of the tools which assist when dealing with situations. I found the training to be interactive and a good balance of checking understanding along with the trainers supporting with additional explanations.
I will continue to support colleagues and friends and family using the knowledge I've gain, and should I ever find myself in situation outside of the work or family / friends where someone is in need of support especially life threatening I feel confident I can have the open conversations to hopefully help that person and remove the treat at that specific time. Refresher
E.Williams, Headteacher | Pennyhill Primary School
This was a really valuable piece of training. It provides a clear framework which you can use to support and signpost others. The training manual is well developed so it provides a useful resource which you can keep referring to after the course. A good list of agencies to signpost people to. Back in school now and I have already used the framework and the handbook for signposting. Youth Mental Health First Aid
Megan Rhodes, PA to Head of Invovement | NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board
I went into this training with an open mind. I have supported friends, family and colleagues alike with their mental health before. The training was very well delivered and we were given space for discussion around hard to understand topics. I feel validated with the techniques I was using before, and feel it has allowed me to develop my abilities further and feel more useful as a result. I feel this training will help benefit me going forward and would recommend it to friends and colleagues. Mental Health First Aid October 2022
Peter Warrener, HR & OD Director | Black Country Integrated Care Board
Thank you for your skilful and professional facilitation over two enriching days; it was really worthwhile. To be honest, I approached the course with some thoughts about how I was going to cope with being two full days “out of the office” but the time almost immediately turned into an investment and was nowhere near the time thief that I had feared. Mental Health First Aid November 2022
Mani Badhan, Training Hub Project Manager | Black Country Integrated Care Board (NHS) Training Hub
The Black Country Training Hub have previously worked in partnership with MFHA supporting Mental Health Full Day Training, Awareness, Refresher and Suicide Training.
MHFA has consistently delivered a high standard of service. Kay and Emma have gone above and beyond expectations including a big emphasis on not only supporting others wellbeing, and how to focus on ‘you’ too.
I have been privileged and attended a couple of sessions with the organisation and will look forward continue working with you in the future.
I have had excellent feedback from a variety or Clinical and Non-clinical professionals and would like this training to be made available continuously. Mental Health Aware December 2022
Louise Hutchinson, Care Co-ordinator | Dudley Integrated Healthcare
Thank you to both of you for the awareness training today, really enjoyed it being interactive, the case studies and quiz.
I am new to my role so this information and the areas highlighted have really been beneficial to help further develop my knowledge. I feel improving my skills/knowledge will help me - help patients, friends, family, colleagues and my own well-being. Mental Health Aware February 2023
Lewis Timms, Personal Trainer | Better Gym Walsall Wood
I really enjoyed the training provided by Kay and Emma. They were friendly and professional.
The training was well structured and easy to follow. I loved how we were split into different ‘Rooms’ with other participants to discuss questions from the workbook. Mental Health Aware February 2023
Rachel Griffiths, Social Prescribing Link Worker | Dudley Integrated Health & Care Trust
This was such an informative and engaging course. I did not know what to expect and lacked confidence starting conversations around mental health and supporting in crisis situations before taking the course, however I now feel equipped to apply MHFA to real life situations. The content was extensive and each topic was covered thoroughly and sensitively. The learning styles used were powerful in conveying messages around mental health. Both Kay and Emma were excellent instructors and ensured the wellbeing of us as learners throughout the course. I will take away the skills and knowledge I have gained from the course to apply in both my personal and professional life. I would highly recommend this course! Mental Health First Aid February 2023
Jo Garbett, Fire Safety Advisor | Russells Hall Hospital, The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
I wanted to attend this training in order to be able to support my colleagues, as well as learn some techniques to support my own metal health. I found the training thought provoking, sensitive, and delivered well. There was a good mix of media used to present the information, and this has really increased my knowledge around mental health. With the tools provided, I believe I can now support myself and my colleagues and promote good mental health. Mental Health Aware March 2023
Anna Michalski, Library and Information Assistant | City of Wolverhampton Council
I enjoyed the course. There is still stigma attached to MH. The course was very informative and I look forward to going on the two day first aider course. Mental Health Aware May 2023
Patience Waddup, Social Worker (CMHT) | City of Wolverhampton Council
The training has enabled me to increase my knowledge as I support a diverse adults, adults who are socially isolated, adults with mental health issues and individuals in the community. I have acquired knowledge and understanding of the importance of well-being, listening and enabling a personalised approach to be undertaken when individuals are experiencing mental health. Mental Health Aware May 2023
Sarah Campbell, Customer Engagement Manager | City of Wolverhampton Council
The course provided a good overview of MH with a wide range of resources to take away. I came away with more knowledge and how to approach certain elements of MH in the workplace and on a personal level. It was very informal and Kay and Emma made you feel at ease. Group work was interesting and felt it provided you with more insight into the course. Mental Health Aware May 2023
Bev Linton, Caseworker | City of Wolverhampton Council
The training is very much needed for a service to provide a better awareness of mental health and how best to support both vulnerable people, whilst being mindful of our own mental health. This enables us to have a better insight and the tools on how to manage both individuals and ourselves. Mental Health Aware May 2023
Daniel Keley
I found it interesting and was made to see some aspects of mental health in a different light. Both trainers Jonathan and Tammy were really engaging and made us all feel comfortable. Would recommend to anyone.
I am hoping to start up a mental health focus group in the coming months now I have completed the course. Mental Health First Aid September 2023
Natalie Barrows, Clinical Bioinformatician | Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital (West Midlands Regional Genetics Laboratory)
The course was very well structured, and the mixture of presentations, videos, group and individual tasks kept you engaged throughout. I like how it was spread out over 4 days as the content would have been too intense if it was condensed any further, especially when covering more serious mental health topics. I learnt a lot over the course and feel more confident in supporting a member of staff experiencing a mental health issue thanks to the practical nature of how the course was delivered and to the supportive instructors (Kay, Emma and Tammy). I hope this training will benefit others within my team and trainees that come through the department who may be affected by a mental health issue and I can offer them the right support within the workplace and guidance of where to find the most useful resources to suit their needs. The instructors were also very accommodating and supportive of my hearing loss and made sure I didn't miss anything vital, so thank you. Mental Health First Aid November 2023
Nathalie Dean, Secondary and Post 16 Support Lead | Phase Trust
The Youth Mental Health First Aid course delivered by Kay and Emma was a really helpful update and knowledge refresher training course for a lot of the topics I regularly have insight to within my job role. I also found it very useful in terms of adding to my toolbox for when I am working with young people and it was good to have updated data around mental health issues. It was also really interesting to unpack some of the myths and stigma around some of the topics, psychosis especially.
Kay and Emma was very friendly and clear whilst delivering and facilitated a really warm and relaxed atmosphere within which to share our feedback/ personal stories.
This was an excellent training course overall. Youth Mental Health First Aid January 2024
Daniel Holmes, Project Coordinator, Together in Penn fields
The content was very efficient, on point, detailed but enough clarity to go from section to section. Very well documented in all aspects indeed, and I really liked that it followed the handout guide we were given.
The two ladies presenting the training were amazing, great in sharing the delivery of the training between each other, as well as giving excellent answers, information and support on the different sections! Youth Mental Health First Aid February 2024