Youth Mental Health First Aid

We will deliver the training to a smaller group in a large room. We have been working closely with the venue to ensure we have Covid-safe measures and clear guidance in place.

If for any reason the course cannot be delivered face-to-face (e.g. guidance changes, there is a local lock-down, the trainer has symptoms), we will transfer bookings to the next available dates.

Aimed at anyone who supports young people 8-18, this course develops understanding and confidence to spot the signs of mental health issues, respond effectively, and link young people to resources and services that can help.

You will leave with a handbook and tools to support early intervention, promote wellbeing, respond to crisis, look after your own mental health and create a mentally healthy environment in your family, school, service or community.

Also available for teams in-house (we come to you).

Course aims

• To develop skills and confidence to spot the signs of mental health issues in a young person, offer first aid and guide them towards the support they need
• Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses are for everyone who works with, lives with or supports young people aged 8-18. YMHFA won’t teach you to be a therapist, but it will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis – and even potentially stop a crisis from happening

Course objectives

By the end of the course participants will have had opportunities to:

• Gain an in depth understanding of young people’s mental health and factors that affect wellbeing
• Explore practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues
• Develop confidence to reassure and support a young person in distress
• Enhance interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening
• Gain 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
• Improve their ability to support a young person with a long term mental health issue or disability to thrive
• Identify tools to look after your own mental wellbeing

MHFA does not teach people to be therapists. However, it does teach people how to recognise the symptoms of mental health problems, how to provide initial help and how to guide a young person towards appropriate professional help if necessary.

Maximum Group Size: 16