Mental Health First Aid
Course Overview
Around 25 per cent of the UK population will experience a mental health problem at some point in
their lives. Most are mild, tend to be short-term and are usually treated successfully with therapy
and medication.
But it is still a significant problem. Mental Health First Aid teaches participants how to notice and
support individuals who may be experiencing mental health issues or exhibiting the signs of
substance use in a work environment. They are also taught how to connect those people with
appropriate help from fellow employees, community resources or healthcare professionals.
Course Content
Stress and mental health are closely linked, and workplace pressure is one of the most common triggers for a decline in someone's mental wellbeing. The course covers how stress affects individuals and teams, and why a workplace wellness approach benefits everyone, not just those directly affected.
The course covers the roles of employers, managers and employees in making a mental health support approach work in practice: employers setting the right culture and policies, managers noticing and responding appropriately, and employees knowing where to turn, whether that's a colleague, an internal resource or a healthcare professional.
A central part of the course is learning to notice when a colleague may be experiencing a mental health issue or showing signs of substance use, and understanding how to approach that conversation supportively rather than avoiding it. This isn't about diagnosing conditions, but about noticing changes and knowing how to respond with care.
The course covers how to connect someone with the right kind of support, whether that's a trusted colleague, an internal Employee Assistance Programme, or an external healthcare professional. Knowing where to point someone, and doing so without judgement, is often the most valuable practical skill the course teaches.
This course is valuable for any employee, but particularly for managers, supervisors, HR teams and anyone in a role where colleagues might naturally turn to them for support.
By the end of the course, you'll be able to:
- Define and understand the importance of mental health first aid
- Develop a greater understanding of mental health issues and the benefits of a first aid approach
- Understand the roles and responsibilities of employers and employees in workplace mental health
- Identify the causes and impact of workplace stress
- Develop and understand a wellness strategy within the workplace
Course Duration
90 mins
Course Certification
Approved by Gatehouse Awards, CPD & IIRSM
