MHFA Online Training - full course

 

Build a Mentally Healthy School Community!

​

Mental health has never been more vital in education. We know that when staff are well, pupils thrive. Yet the pressures of school life today — from supporting pupils and families to managing personal and professional demands — are immense. Now more than ever, we need to ensure that staff feel confident, supported, and equipped to look after their own wellbeing and that of others.

 

Training your staff as Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs) gives your school a powerful foundation for early intervention and support. Your team will learn how to:

​

• Recognise when someone — colleague or pupil — may be struggling.

• Approach them sensitively and start a conversation.

• Use active listening to provide real support and connection.

• Signpost the right help and encourage self-care or professional support.

 

You do not need any prior knowledge, as this course doesn’t just build knowledge — it develops practical, confident, and compassionate responders who can make a real difference every day.   Each session combines essential theory with practical, engaging activities to ensure staff can apply their learning in real-life school situations.

​

Session 1 – Introduction to Mental Health First Aid in Schools

• Why MHFA matters and how it supports a positive school culture

• The role of a Mental Health First Aider — what they do and don’t do. Legislation covering mental illness, stigma and discrimination

• Core principles: confidentiality, fairness, respect, positive regard, autonomy, and doing no harm

• Practical session: recognising unconscious bias

 

Session 2 – The MHFA System: ALGEE: structured, evidence-based framework for responding effectively:

• A – Approach/Assess: understanding needs and making your approach

• L – Listen: practising active listening and questioning skills

• G – Give Support & Information

• E – Encourage Self-Help: exploring strategies such as breathing, grounding, journaling, mindfulness, and sleep routines

• E – Encourage Professional Help: knowing when and how to refer on

• Mental health of children & Safeguarding issues

• Practical sessions throughout – role play and real-world scenarios

 

Session 3 – Mental health conditions

• Low Mood & Depression & Bipolar Disorder – symptoms, first aid, suicidal crisis

• Stress & anxiety – symptoms, first aid

• Substance Abuse - Drug & alcohol – symptoms, first aid

• Eating disorders - symptoms, first aid

• Self-harm - symptoms, first aid

• Personality disorders – symptoms, first aid

• Practical session: identifying early warning signs

​

Session 4 – Self-Care for Mental Health First Aiders

• Recognising signs of burnout and managing personal wellbeing

• First aider self-care, peer support and supervision

 

Session 5 – Building a Mentally Healthy School

• MHFA Action Plan – setting up and operating a system

• Building a mentally well school environment

 

As well as full training and a supporting mental health first aid guide, you will receive an electronic resource pack with information sheets & posters for a range of mental health issues.  You will end the course with an action plan for introducing a MHFA program into your school.

​

There are optional modules that look at the specifics of mental health for children and the safeguarding issues associated with providing mental health first aid to pupils.

​

There will be short assessments through the course, and on completion you will receive a certificate in Mental Health First Aid, together with a MHFA signature strip to add to your emails.