Mental Health Training Courses

Mental health training teaches people at work to notice when a colleague is struggling, start a supportive conversation and point them towards the right help. There are two main routes in the UK – the licensed Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course and the Ofqual-regulated First Aid for Mental Health awards – with shorter awareness, advocate and manager courses around them. All of them are listed here, in the classroom, live online and by e-learning.

Most bookedMental Health First AidTwo days in the classroom, or four live online sessions

Regulated routeFirst Aid for Mental HealthLevel 1, 2 and 3 awards on the Regulated Qualifications Framework

Certificate lifeThree yearsThen refresh or requalify to stay current

Ways to learnClassroom, live online, e-learningOr on site for a whole team

Which mental health course do you need?

Start with the role the person will play, not the course title. Someone who will be a named point of contact needs more than someone who simply needs to understand the subject.

You are training named mental health first aiders

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) – the two-day course that certifies someone as a Mental Health First Aider, and the best-known route in UK workplaces
Level 2 Award in First Aid for Mental Health – a one-day regulated qualification: recognising conditions, starting a conversation and signposting
Level 3 Award in Supervising First Aid for Mental Health – two days, for those who will lead mental health first aid provision or support other first aiders
Most organisations pair these with physical first aid cover – see First Aid at Work

You want awareness, culture change or manager skills

Mental Health Awareness – half-day introductions, in the classroom, live online or as short e-learning, suitable for every employee
Mental Health Advocate – a one-day course for people who will champion wellbeing day to day, complementing first aiders rather than replacing them
Mental health for managers – supervising mental health at work, building a workplace mental health policy and having difficult conversations well
For the causes as well as the response, add Stress Management training

The main mental health courses compared

Half day

Mental Health Aware / Level 1 Awareness

What mental health is, the common conditions, stigma and how to look after your own wellbeing. No first aider role attached.

One day

Level 2 First Aid for Mental Health

Regulated award. Recognise a range of conditions, start a supportive conversation, know when and how to signpost to professional help.

Two days

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

The licensed Mental Health First Aider course. In-depth practice at spotting signs, responding in a crisis and applying the MHFA action plan, with three-year certification.

Two days

Level 3 Supervising First Aid for Mental Health

Regulated award for managers and lead first aiders. Goes into a wider range of conditions and professional support, and how to build a positive mental health culture at work.

One day

Mental Health Advocate

For visible workplace champions: building trust, reducing stigma, running toolbox talks and signposting, alongside your first aiders.

Half day

MHFA Refresher

For existing Mental Health First Aiders approaching three years. Updates knowledge, practises the action plan and gives another three years of certification.

What mental health training covers

Depth varies with the length of the course, but the core content is consistent across providers and awarding bodies.

What mental health and mental ill health are
Stress, anxiety and depression
Psychosis, eating disorders and self-harm
Suicide awareness and responding in a crisis
Spotting early warning signs in colleagues
Starting a non-judgemental conversation and listening well
Signposting to professional and self-help support
Stigma, language and workplace culture
Alcohol, drugs and mental health
Boundaries, confidentiality and the first aider's own wellbeing

Is mental health training a legal requirement?

There is no law that says an employer must appoint Mental Health First Aiders. There are legal duties that training helps to meet, though. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 employers must protect employees' health, which includes mental health, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require the risk of work-related stress to be assessed and acted on. HSE's first aid guidance also asks employers to consider mental ill health when they assess their first aid needs, and names mental health trained first aiders as one of the measures to consider. Our free first aid needs tool is a good place to start, and the training matrix shows where mental health training fits alongside everything else your roles require.

Keeping certificates current

Mental Health First Aid and First Aid for Mental Health certificates both run for three years. MHFA is renewed with a half-day refresher; the regulated awards are renewed by retaking the full course, with annual refresher training strongly recommended in between. Check your expiry dates so cover does not lapse.

How you can take it

Classroom

Face-to-face courses at venues across the UK. The best format for a subject that depends on conversation, practice and group discussion.

Live online

Instructor-led sessions by video with a real trainer and group. MHFA runs as four shorter sessions; the regulated awards cover the same content and assessment as the classroom.

E-learning

Self-paced online mental health courses for awareness, managers and policy. Ideal for reaching a whole workforce quickly and consistently.

Common questions

What is the difference between Mental Health First Aid and First Aid for Mental Health?

Both train people to recognise poor mental health, offer initial support and signpost to professional help. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the licensed two-day programme that certifies someone as a Mental Health First Aider. First Aid for Mental Health is a set of Ofqual-regulated qualifications at Level 1 (awareness, half a day), Level 2 (one day) and Level 3 (supervising, two days). Both are widely used by UK employers; choose on the time available and whether you want a regulated qualification.

How long does a mental health first aid course take?

The MHFA course is two days in the classroom, or four live online sessions. The Level 2 Award in First Aid for Mental Health is one day and the Level 3 supervising award is two days. Awareness courses are typically half a day, and e-learning is self-paced.

How long does a mental health first aid certificate last?

Three years, for both MHFA and the regulated First Aid for Mental Health awards. MHFA is renewed with a half-day refresher, which gives another three years. The regulated awards are renewed by completing the full course again.

Can mental health first aid training be done online?

Yes. The full MHFA course and the regulated awards are available live online with an instructor, and lead to the same certificate as the classroom version. Self-paced e-learning courses are also listed; check each one for the certificate it leads to.

Do mental health first aiders diagnose or treat conditions?

No. A mental health first aider is a point of contact, not a therapist. The role is to spot the signs, listen without judgement, give reassurance and guide the person to appropriate professional or self-help support – and to know what to do in a crisis until help arrives.

Are the courses suitable for everyone?

No previous training is needed. Minimum ages vary by course and provider – commonly 16, with some awards open from 14 and some courses set at 18 – so check the course page. The courses cover sensitive subjects, including suicide and self-harm, so it is worth letting people know before booking them on; delegates can step out if they need to.

How many mental health first aiders should a workplace have?

There is no set ratio in law. Many employers aim for parity with their physical first aiders and make sure every site and shift has someone available. Base the number on your first aid needs assessment, the size and spread of your workforce and the pressures of the work.

Compare mental health training course dates below

Envico lists mental health training from approved providers across the UK, so you can compare dates, venues and formats in one place. For the wider range including stress, resilience and wellbeing, see Mental Health & Well-being. Training a whole team? Our free group travel cost calculator shows which venue is cheapest for everyone to reach, and whether an on-site course beats sending people out.

Country/region