Courses for Adults Supporting Young People
Our courses are designed for adults (+16 years) who support young people aged 8 – 18, whether you’re a parent, carer, teacher, youth worker, or mentor. We focus on helping you understand mental health in ways that enable you to offer the right kind of support at the right time.
As someone who lives or works with young people, you are often the first to notice when a young person is experiencing emotional distress. You’ll learn how to recognise early signs of stress, anxiety, or other mental health challenges, as well as how to respond with empathy and practical strategies.
Each course combines up-to-date knowledge with real-life examples and space to discuss your own experiences. By the end, you’ll feel more confident, better equipped, and reassured that you can make a positive impact in the lives of the young people you care about.
Research and evaluation show that taking part in one of our MHFA England Youth Courses:
-
- Raises awareness and increases mental health literacy
- Reduces stigma around mental ill-health
- Boosts knowledge and confidence in dealing with mental health issues
- Promotes early intervention, which supports recovery
A Selection of Our Courses for Adults Supporting Young People
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses are internationally recognised training programmes teaching people to spot the signs of mental ill-health and provide help on a first aid basis. Youth MHFA training teaches you to listen confidently, reassure and respond appropriately to a young person needing help, even in a crisis. The Youth MHFA course is aimed at adults (+16 years of age) supporting young people (aged 8 -18 years).
The course gives you:
- A deeper understanding of youth mental health and the factors that can affect young people’s wellbeing
- Practical skills to spot the signs of mental health issues in young people
- Confidence to reassure and support a young person in distress
- Enhanced interpersonal skills, including non-judgemental listening
- Knowledge to help a young person recover their health by guiding them to appropriate support
- Be mindful of your wellbeing
The Youth Mental Health First Aid course is either two full days (9 am – 5 pm) or four half-day units over two weeks.
What you’ll learn
Support beyond the course
MHFA England’s commitment to your learning extends far beyond the training room. After completing the Youth MHFA course, you’ll be invited to join England’s first and only membership body for Mental Health First Aiders, the Association of Mental Health First Aiders®, providing you with continuous learning opportunities and a support network to help you in your role. – Exclusive resources: Gain access to toolkits, films, and more to keep your knowledge fresh – Stay connected with the MHFAider Support App®: Access a 24/7 support service and tools to help you on the go – Regular webinars: Connect with other Youth MHFAiders® and continue growing your mental health expertise
Either one full day (9 am to 5 pm) or two half-day sessions, face-to-face or online, this is an awareness and skills course teaching you to:
- Recognise the main signs and symptoms of common mental health issues in young people
- Feel confident providing initial support to a young person experiencing poor mental health
- Help prevent a young person from hurting themselves or others
- Guide a young person towards appropriate support
- Reduce the stigma of poor mental health
- Be mindful of your wellbeing.
Learners attending the course will receive a workbook and manual to keep. In addition, all learners completing the course will receive a Youth Mental Health Champion certificate of attendance.
A four-hour (half-day) introductory course designed to increase awareness of mental health and mental health issues in young people. The half-day or four-hour course enables you to:
- Relate to young people’s experiences
- Define mental health
- Gain a greater understanding of how and why positive and negative mental health affects young people
- Start a supportive conversation about mental ill health
- Work more effectively with young people experiencing mental health problems
- Practise self-care
Learners attending the course will receive a workbook and manual to keep. In addition, all learners completing the course will receive a Youth Mental Health Aware certificate of attendance.
The Youth MHFA Refresher course aims to remind learners about the key aspects and takeaways of the Youth MHFA course, giving learners the confidence to spot the signs of poor mental health in young people and have a Youth MHFA conversation with them. This course is designed for anyone who works with, lives with, or supports young people aged 8–18.
Youth Mental Health First Aiders, also known as Youth MHFAiders, are people who have completed a Youth Mental Health First Aid course from MHFA England.
We believe that mental health should be treated equally to physical health. Just like physical first aid, we recommend Youth Mental Health First Aiders take the Youth MHFA Refresher course every three years to ensure their mental health knowledge, awareness, and skills are up to date.
Youth MHFA Refresher in the workplace:
Keep your Youth Mental Health First Aiders at their best with regular Youth MHFA Refresher training every three years to ensure they’re always equipped to support your young people’s wellbeing. Investing in the Youth MHFA Refresher course keeps your Youth Mental Health First Aiders motivated, empowered, and confident to carry out their roles. It will give you the peace of mind that they can perform their duties effectively. Refreshing your Youth Mental Health First Aiders’ skills, just as you do for physical first aiders, shows your commitment to building a stronger, more resilient environment able to support the needs of young people.
Empower your Youth Mental Health First Aiders to offer the support young people deserve with renewed confidence and an even deeper understanding of mental health.
In just four hours, your Youth Mental Health First Aiders will:
- Renew their skills
- Update their knowledge of mental health
- Practise applying the MHFA action plan
Completing the Youth MHFA Refresher with MHFA England gives your MHFAiders ongoing membership to the Association of Mental Health First Aiders, England’s first and only membership body of its kind. From the national authority on mental health first aid, MHFA England is the only organisation that offers ongoing support to Youth MHFAiders as part of its mental health training.
Membership of the Association gives your Youth MHFAiders exclusive access to a wide range of resources, from training and qualifications to events and research.
This includes:
- The MHFAider Support App®. Members have access to features such as a 24/7 text support service, signposting to a national database of health services, and insights that teach critical self-care skills
- Access to the MHFA England Online Learning Hub. This contains resources such as course manuals and MHFAider guides
- First-hand insights. Youth MHFAiders can watch our Honest Answers film series, where people share their lived experience of mental health conditions
- Invites to exclusive quarterly webinars to help Youth Mental Health First Aiders carry out their role with confidence, skill, and care
- Monthly newsletters. Youth Mental Health First Aiders are kept up to date with all the latest news
As members of the Association, your Youth MHFAiders are not just supporting young people - they’re contributing to a healthier, happier society. Keep your Youth Mental Health First Aiders up to speed with Youth MHFA Refresher training every three years to make sure they’re ready to support with confidence, skill, and care.
To book your free business review, discuss training, coaching, or mentoring needs, please complete the Contact page HERE
