Which course do I need?
Answer three questions — who's training, why, and where — and the right course usually picks itself. Here's the honest, provider-neutral logic we use.
1. Start with the role, not the course
Appointing designated workplace Mental Health First Aiders? The two-day qualification is the standard: MHFA England's 2-day course in England and Wales, SMHFA in Scotland, or the FAA Level 3 award if your organisation prefers an Ofqual-regulated qualification.
Training line managers? A one-day course fits best: MHFA Champion for awareness plus supportive-conversation skills, or i-act for managers if you want a prevention-and-wellbeing focus with Royal College of Psychiatrists accreditation.
Raising awareness across a whole team? Half-day sessions — Mental Health Aware or the FAA Level 1 award — give everyone shared language at a low per-head cost.
Working with children or young people? Youth MHFA (ages 8–18) in England and Wales, or Young People's SMHFA in Scotland.
Already qualified, three or more years ago? Take the half-day MHFA Refresher.
2. Then check your nation
Mental health first aid is organised differently across the UK. In England and Wales, MHFA England courses are the most widely recognised, with FAA-regulated awards a credible alternative. In Scotland, the native programme is Scotland's Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA), developed for NHS Health Scotland. UK-wide employers often standardise on online MHFA England courses for consistency, or train to each nation's programme locally — both are reasonable approaches.
3. Then format and budget
In person generates the richest discussion and suits teams training together. Live online (usually four half-day sessions for the two-day courses) is easier to schedule and reaches distributed teams. Certification is the same either way.
For groups of roughly eight or more, a private course usually beats open-course places on cost per head — see our pricing guide for typical numbers.
The full comparison
| Course | Provider | Duration | Best for | Typical price (open course) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult MHFA (2 day) | MHFA England | 2 days (or four half-day sessions online) | Anyone aged 16+; the standard choice for designated workplace Mental Health First Aiders. | £200–£325 pp |
| MHFA Champion (1 day) | MHFA England | 1 day | Managers and team members who want practical skills without the full two-day commitment. | £125–£200 pp |
| Mental Health Aware (half day) | MHFA England | Half day (about 4 hours) | Whole teams and anyone starting out with mental health awareness. | £75–£125 pp |
| Youth MHFA (2 day) | MHFA England | 2 days (or four half-day sessions online) | Adults who live or work with young people aged 8–18 — teachers, youth workers, sports coaches, parents. | £200–£325 pp |
| MHFA Refresher (half day) | MHFA England | Half day (about 4 hours) | Existing Mental Health First Aiders and Champions trained three or more years ago. | £100–£150 pp |
| SMHFA (Scotland) | NHS Health Scotland / Public Health Scotland programme | 12 hours, usually over 2 days | Anyone in Scotland aged 16+; the standard mental health first aid course north of the border. | £150–£250 pp |
| FAA regulated awards | First Aid Awards (FAA) — Ofqual-regulated | Half day (Level 1), 1 day (Level 2) or 2 days (Level 3 supervising) | Workplaces that prefer a regulated (Ofqual) qualification, often alongside physical first aid training. | £95–£250 pp |
| St John Ambulance | St John Ambulance | Half day to 2 days depending on course | Employers who already use St John Ambulance for physical first aid and want one training partner. | £150–£300 pp |
| i-act | i-act (accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists) | 1 day (manager or non-manager versions) | Managers and staff in organisations that want a wellbeing-and-prevention focus with clinical accreditation. | £150–£250 pp |
Still weighing it up?
Describe your team and goals in our two-minute enquiry form and we'll recommend the best-fit course — with no bias towards any single provider.