Intro
The Youth Mental Health First Aid course has been updated for 2025 with the latest knowledge and research. It has been redeveloped through an inclusive lens with extensive input from young people with lived experience.
This course is ideal for anyone who lives with, works with, or supports young people aged 8 to 18 and wants to gain the knowledge, awareness, and skills to spot the signs of a young person experiencing poor mental health, the confidence to start a conversation, and the tools to safeguard and signpost to appropriate support.
Youth Mental Health First Aiders receive three years of certification and are invited to join the Association of Mental Health First Aiders® – England’s first and only membership body for MHFAiders. As well as access to ongoing learning and expert support, members gain the benefits of being part of a national movement for better mental health.
Cost
| Per Person | £325 |
| Group Rate (10-16 participants) |
£3,250 |
In addition, charges are added for Instructors’ travel expenses, accommodation and refreshments if outside West Essex, and any venue hire costs incurred.
Learning Outcomes
Youth Mental Health First Aiders will be able to:
- Explain what mental health is
- Describe how to look after their own mental health and wellbeing
- Describe the signs of poor mental health in young people
- Explain some of the risk factors associated with poor mental health in young people
- Demonstrate how to apply the Youth MHFA action plan (ALGEE®) in a Youth Mental Health First Aid conversation
- Describe the role of a Youth MHFAider®
- 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®
- Learn beyond the course through membership of the Association of Mental Health First Aiders®
Format
- The course is available for both face-to-face and online delivery
- The course is made up of four sessions. Each session is 3.5 hours long
- We limit numbers to 16 people per course so that instructors can keep people safe and supported while they learn
Benefits
When young people feel their mental health is supported, they are better able to thrive. Better understanding of mental health and less stigma ripples out into communities, with the potential to improve and save lives.
Takeaways
Everyone who completes the course gets:
- A digital manual to refer to whenever you need it
- An interactive digital workbook to support your learning throughout the course
- A digital certificate of attendance to say you are now a Youth Mental Health First Aider
Course Plan
Session 1
- What is mental health?
- What is Youth Mental Health First Aid?
- Your role as a Youth MHFAider
- What influences mental health?
- The Mental Health Continuum
- The Frame of Reference
- The Stress Container
Session 2
- The adolescent brain
- The Youth MHFA action plan
- Youth MHFA conversation in action
- Boundaries of your role
- What is anxiety?
- Crisis first aid for panic attacks
- What is a traumatic event?
- Applying Youth MHFA to case studies
Session 3
- Recap Youth MHFA action plan
- Supporting young people from marginalised groups
- What is depression?
- What is self-harm?
- Suicide thoughts and behaviours
- What is self-care?
Session 4
- Addictive behaviours and substance misuse
- Applying the Youth MHFA action plan to scenarios
- What is psychosis?
- What is disordered eating?
- Recovery
- Reviewing the Youth MHFAider role and boundaries
- Youth MHFA conversation practise
How often should MHFA England skills be refreshed ?
We believe that mental health should be treated equally to physical health – and just like physical first aid, Mental Health First Aid training should be kept up to date. The refresher must be done within six months of the three-year renewal date.
This course requires a minimum of 6 participants to run, and has a maximum capacity of 16 participants.