Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about mental health first aid training — and about how we work.
About the training
What is mental health first aid?
Mental health first aid is the help offered to a person developing a mental health issue or in a mental health crisis, in the moments before professional help is available — the mental health equivalent of physical first aid. Training courses teach you to recognise warning signs, respond with a supportive conversation and guide the person to appropriate help.
Does mental health first aid training make me a therapist or counsellor?
No — and good courses are explicit about this. A mental health first aider listens, supports and signposts; they do not diagnose, treat or provide ongoing care. Knowing where the role stops is part of the training.
Is the training emotionally difficult?
The courses cover sensitive topics including self-harm and suicide, and instructors are trained to deliver them safely. You are never required to share personal experiences, and you can step out at any time. Most people find the courses demanding but very rewarding.
Is there any exam or assessment?
Most mental health first aid courses have no exam — certification is based on full attendance and participation. Regulated qualifications (such as the FAA awards) include light-touch assessment during the course.
Choosing a course
What’s the difference between MHFA England and other providers?
MHFA England is the licensed body for Mental Health First Aid in England and has the strongest brand recognition among employers. Scotland has its own SMHFA programme. Regulated FAA qualifications, St John Ambulance courses and i-act are credible alternatives with different emphases. Our course chooser walks through the differences.
Online or in person — which is better?
Certification is identical. In-person courses tend to produce richer discussion and suit teams training together; live online courses (usually four half-day sessions) are easier to schedule and reach distributed teams. Choose whichever your people will actually attend.
How many mental health first aiders should a workplace have?
A common benchmark is to mirror your physical first aid provision — many organisations aim for roughly one mental health first aider per 10–25 staff, spread across sites and shifts. There is no legal minimum; it depends on your workforce and risk profile.
Is mental health first aid training a legal requirement?
Not currently in the UK. Employers have a general duty to manage risks to mental as well as physical health, and mental health first aid training is a widely adopted way of supporting that duty — but the training itself is not mandated.
Booking through us
What does your service cost?
Nothing on top. Advice and matching are free to you; we earn through our own scheduled courses and through partner arrangements with trainers. The typical prices we publish are what you should expect to pay in the market.
Are you part of MHFA England?
No — we are an independent information and booking service. MHFA England courses arranged through us are delivered by instructors accredited by MHFA England, and the same goes for the other programmes and their respective bodies.
Who actually delivers the courses?
Accredited instructors: our own scheduled courses are delivered by experienced accredited instructors, and for other locations and dates we match you with vetted accredited trainers in our partner network.
Can you handle multi-site or UK-wide programmes?
Yes — that’s one of the most useful things about an independent service. We can put together a consistent programme across England, Scotland and Wales, using the right accredited course in each nation, with one point of contact.
Question not answered?
Ask us directly — we reply to every enquiry personally, usually within one working day.