Youth Mental Health First Aid Two Day Course

In partnership with Art4Space, the mental health awareness and training company It’s a Playground will be facilitating the internationally recognised Mental Health First Aid (England) course in Lambeth, London.

This two-day course will be held in the unique, colourful space just 6 minutes from Stockwell Tube Station and will be hosted by Art4Space who will be adding in some of their own wellbeing tips and exercises to help support your wellbeing.

What is Mental Health First Aid?A training course, designed to teach people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first aid basis.

At MHFA England we offer a range of courses tailored for people who teach, work, live with and care for young people aged 8 to 18. The courses can be attended by anyone from age 16 upwards.

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Social media, peer pressure, bullying, family units breaking down and an increased number of children in the care system have all been suggested as contributing factors to the rise in mental health issues in younger people. Many of these issues affecting mental wellbeing are multiple and often remain undetected and untreated unless agencies such as schools take an active role.

GPs, counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists and other professionals can all help young people experiencing mental health issues. However, just as with accidents and other medical emergencies, such assistance is not always immediately available when an issue first arises.

This is when key figures in the young person’s life, such as parents, teachers, tutors, carers, and youth workers, can offer aid and guide them towards the appropriate professional support.

Youth MHFA Two Day course

Completing our two day course worth £325 per person, qualifies you as a Youth Mental Health First Aider.

Youth Mental Health First Aiders have:

- An in depth understanding of young people’s mental health and factors that affect wellbeing

- Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues

- Confidence to 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 through self-help sites, 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 or disability to thrive

- Tools to look after your own mental wellbeing

The course is delivered in four manageable chunks:

- About mental health

- Depression and anxiety

- Suicide and psychosis

- Self-harm and eating disorders

Everyone who completes the course gets a Youth MHFA manual to refer to whenever they need it, and a certificate to say they are a Youth Mental Health First Aider.

• We limit numbers to 16 people per course so that the instructor can keep people safe and supported while they learn

Please note there are no refunds.

Some thoughts from people who have completed the course with It’s a Playground and Art4Space:

"Laura is amazing, great knowledge and presentation of course. Lovely venue for a mental health course- an art studio with a beautiful garden."

"The course covered a wide range of things that I had not considered before, and I really valued the sharing of knowledge and the group tasks that were built into the learning."

"The course was incredibly insightful and I feel much more equipped to deal with any mental health concerns that may arise in my role. Thank you for the training."

"Excellent course and excellent teacher" - Jason Davis, Social, Emotional and Mental Health Specialist/ Pastoral Lead, South Quay College

"Laura was exceptional!! Kept us engaged and felt safe throughout the course while talking about difficult topics" - Alex, Programme Manager, Yes Futures

"Thank you for creating a safe space to gain such powerful knowledge" - Sharon, Programme Manager, Yes Futures