Course Overview

Through a mix of presentation, discussions, self-reflection and group activities, completion of the two day Youth MHFA course, delivered by a quality assured trainer who has attended the MHFA Instructor Training programme accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health, qualifies you as a Youth Mental Health First Aider giving you:

• An in-depth understanding of young people's mental health and factors that can affect wellbeing
• Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues
• Confidence to step in, reassure and support a young person in distress
• Enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening
• Knowledge to help a young person recover their health by guiding them to further support - whether that’s self-help resources, their place of learning, the NHS, or a mix - engaging with parents, carers and external agencies where appropriate
• Ability to support a young person with a long term mental health issue/disability to thrive
• Tools to look after your own mental wellbeing

You will receive a certificate to confirm your training as well as the five-step MHFA action plan and comprehensive manual on completion of the course.

Course Structure

It typically takes 15 hours for a learner to complete the course. This is structured in the following way:

Individual learning – 1hr

Live session one – 9.30am - 12pm Tuesday 1st February

Individual learning – 2hrs

Live session two – 2.30pm - 5pm Tuesday 1st February

Individual learning – 2hrs

Live session three – 9.30am - 12pm Thursday 3rd February

Individual learning – 2hrs

Live session four – 2.30pm - 5pm Thursday 3rd February

Course Content

• About Youth Mental Health First Aid
• Context: England's child health care policy
• About mental health - facts & figures
• Risk factors for mental ill health
• Protective factors for mental ill health
• Preventing mental health issues & promoting wellbeing
• The Youth MHFA action plan: ALGEE

• About depression - facts & figures
• Signs & symptoms
• Risk factors
• About anxiety disorders - facts & figures
• Signs & symptoms
• Risk factors
• The MHFA action plan for depression & anxiety: ALGEE

• About suicide
• Risk factors & warning signs for suicide
• First aid for suicidal crisis
• About psychosis
• Risk factors & warning signs of psychosis
• Types of psychotic disorders
• Crisis first aid for acute psychosis
• The MHFA action plan for psychosis: ALGEE

• About self-harm - facts & figures
• Risk factors
• Signs & symptoms
• The MHFA action plan for self-harm: ALGEE
• About eating disorders - facts & figures
• Different types of eating disorders
• The MHFA action plan for eating disorders: ALGEE
• Recovery

This course is run over four days from 9.30am - 5pm - attendance on both days are required for certification.

For further information about this course please see the 'courses' section of the website or get in touch.