FAA Award in First Aid for Mental Health (Levels 1–3)
A regulated alternative to MHFA England: Ofqual-listed First Aid for Mental Health qualifications at three levels, often delivered by the same providers who run workplace physical first aid courses.
First Aid Awards (FAA) offers a suite of regulated First Aid for Mental Health qualifications: Level 1 (half-day awareness), Level 2 (one day, for any employee) and Level 3 Supervising/Leading First Aid for Mental Health (two days, for managers and designated leads). Because they sit on the regulated qualifications frameworks, some employers — particularly those used to buying regulated physical first aid training — prefer them for audit and compliance purposes.
Content is broadly comparable to the equivalent MHFA England courses: recognising mental health conditions, starting supportive conversations, a first-aid action plan and signposting. The two-day Level 3 covers a wider range of conditions in more depth and the responsibilities of leading a workplace mental health programme.
These courses are delivered by FAA-registered training providers across the UK, and are frequently the most budget-friendly certificated option.
What you'll learn
- Recognise a range of mental health conditions and how they affect people at work
- Apply a mental health first aid action plan
- Hold non-judgemental supportive conversations
- Understand the workplace First Aid for Mental Health role (Level 3)
Who it's for
- Employers who prefer Ofqual-regulated qualifications
- Organisations combining mental health and physical first aid training with one provider
- Budget-conscious workplaces that still want certificated training
Things to consider
- Less name recognition than “MHFA England” among some HR teams, despite regulated status
- Quality varies by training provider more than with single-body programmes — check your trainer’s experience
These are regulated qualifications (Ofqual in England, equivalent regulation in Wales) awarded by First Aid Awards Ltd and delivered by registered training providers.
Frequently asked questions
Regulated qualification vs MHFA England certificate — which do employers want?
Both are credible. MHFA England has the strongest brand recognition; FAA awards carry formal Ofqual regulation, which some compliance-driven employers prefer. If a job or contract specifies one, choose that; otherwise choose on trainer quality, format and price.