Mental Health First Aider Short course
Mental wellbeing is vitally important in schools, both for students and staff alike. A basic understanding of mental wellbeing is invaluable for all staff.
Recognising signs of distress, knowing how to make an approach & what to say, and understanding when to get help will be extremely beneficial.
This short course is designed for inset days or other training opportunities and takes about 2.5/3 hours to complete.
The course is similar to the full Mental Health First Aider course above, but does not go into detail about the various mental health conditions – their signs, symptoms and their treatment. Instead we look at recognising common signs and symptoms – the behavioural, physical, and emotional indicators in both staff and pupils.
You do not need any mental health qualifications or prior experience for this course and it should help you to understand the importance of being compassionate, empathetic and accepting with an ability to listen, support and help.
There will be short assessments through the course, and on completion you will receive a certificate in Mental Health First Aid Awareness.
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
• Core principles: confidentiality, fairness, respect, positive regard, autonomy, and doing no harm
• Practical session: recognising unconscious bias
Session 2 – Recognising the Signs and Symptoms
• Common behavioural, physical, and emotional indicators in both staff and pupils
• Special focus on eating issues, self-harm, and substance misuse
• Practical session: identifying early warning signs
Session 3 – The MHFA System: ALGEE: A 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
• Practical sessions throughout – role play and real-world scenarios
Session 4 – Self-Care for Mental Health First Aiders
• Recognising signs of burnout and managing personal wellbeing
Session 5 – Building a Mentally Healthy School
• Group planning and strategy-building to embed wellbeing in your school culture
Our Mental Health First Aid Full Course has all the above content, but also goes into detail about each of the mental health conditions you may encounter in school.
“I found the course both insightful and practical and it has deepened my understanding of mental health support and was, therefore, keen to pursue the full course to explore the subject in greater depth and build on the foundation this course has provided.” SE, Kings School, Peterborough​
​
“Thank you for this course, and I will more than likely review most of it again as I implement MHFA across our schools” JR Cumbria Futures Federation
“I have just completed your Mental Health First Aid Course on Istek. I found this really interesting and easy to follow, and it has allowed me to start to become involved in our schools mental health support team.” AM Bishops Blue Coat, Chester
"Thank you very much for the MHFA course. I found it really enlightening and informative” HM, All Hallow Catholic High, Farnham