Before You Book: Frequently Asked Questions

A regulated qualification is formally recognised by an external awarding body and follows strict quality assurance standards set by Ofqual (England) and the SQA (Scotland).

MHScot’s First Aid for Mental Health qualifications meet these standards, providing learners with an officially recognised certificate, not just proof of attendance

Unlike awareness-only or attendance-based courses, regulated qualifications are:

• Externally quality assured and assessed
• Structured around national frameworks
• Recognised across the UK

Our First Aid for Mental Health qualifications are suitable for anyone who wants to better understand mental health and support others at work.

They are particularly relevant for:

• Managers and supervisors
• HR and people professionals
• Wellbeing, DEI and health & safety leads
• Staff who are seen as go-to support or champions

If you’d like to check whether this role is the right fit for you, try our short Mental Health First Aider Self-Assessment.

It helps you reflect on the qualities, boundaries, and mindset that support this important role, so you can decide with confidence before booking.

Traditional Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Scottish MHFA (SMHFA) courses provide attendance certificates only.

MHScot’s qualifications go further by combining accredited assessment with a focus on real workplace impact and culture change.

MHScot is an independent Scottish CIC. We prioritise smaller group learning, inclusive design, and a practical, preventative approach that embeds the roles of mental health champions and first aiders together.

Our qualifications include:

• Formal assessment and external quality assurance
• A workplace-specific focus with a workplace and stress module.
• National recognition across the UK

They meet the same standards used for physical first aid qualifications.

The qualification lasts three years, after which learners will need to re-qualify by completing the same course again.

There is no separate refresher course, instead, learners have lifetime access to our online learning platform, allowing them to revisit resources and refresh their knowledge anytime.

In between qualifications, some organisations choose to host short practice workshops to revisit the CARE framework through guided role play and discussion.

These sessions help learners build confidence and maintain their skills in real-world scenarios.

Our programmes are built for real-world application, covering:

• Recognising early signs of distress
• Managing stress and communication at work
• Creating a culture of care and psychological safety

We help you embed this learning through our Workplace Framework for Mental Health First Aiders, supporting both managers and MHFAiders.

A trained MHFAider offers a first point of contact, someone to listen, reassure, and signpost to help. They are not clinicians, but trusted colleagues who support early intervention and reduce stigma.

At MHScot, we go a step further by embedding the role of mental health champions and ambassadors within our First Aid for Mental Health training.

Rather than treating these as separate initiatives, we integrate both, ensuring your trained First Aiders are also equipped to influence culture, lead by example, and act as visible advocates for mental wellbeing across your organisation.

This approach not only builds individual confidence but strengthens your workplace culture, creating a more joined-up, compassionate environment for everyone.

There’s no set number. We help you assess coverage based on team size, shift patterns, and workplace risk.

• Understanding mental health and the social model
• Recognising warning signs and stress triggers
• Communication and active listening skills
• The First Aid for Mental Health Action Plan
• Supporting someone in crisis and signposting effectively

• Online blended: Self-study through our LMS, plus guided online sessions and a one-to-one assessment
• In-person: One full day at your workplace or a venue arranged by you

Our courses are designed for up to 12 learners. This smaller group size allows time for meaningful discussion, reflection, and individual support, which are essential for a topic as sensitive and personal as mental health.

While some providers offer sessions for up to 16 participants, we’ve found that larger groups dilute the quality of conversation and can make it harder for learners to engage openly.

We prioritise psychological safety, depth of learning, and real-world application over numbers.

Learners receive:

• Lifetime access to our online learning community
• Drop-in sessions and a WhatsApp support group
• Digital certification and access to a large library of resources for continued learning

Many organisations also choose to host short CARE framework practice workshops in between qualifications.

These optional sessions provide time to revisit key skills through guided role play and discussion, helping learners keep their confidence sharp and their conversations effective.

Research shows that regulated First Aid for Mental Health qualifications:

• Improve confidence to support colleagues
• Reduce mental health stigma
• Strengthen wellbeing culture
• Encourage earlier intervention and help-seeking

(Source: Deloitte 2022; HSE 2024; IOSH MENTOR Study.)

We’re aware that some reports question the long-term impact of mental health first aid training, but context matters.

Our approach embeds learning within workplace culture, not as a one-off intervention, ensuring that skills are supported, refreshed, and applied in real settings. This sustained, culture-based model is what makes MHScot’s programmes effective over time.