First Aid for Mental Health

First Aid for Mental Health

Start your learning journey in Mental Health and Wellbeing

 

Here’s an overview of all our First Aid for Mental Health Courses

This qualification, available online or in-person, builds on the foundational Awareness course by qualifying people as official ‘Mental Health First Aiders’. It provides an in-depth look at how social factors, such as stress, relationships, and workplace culture, influence mental health. It introduces the First Aid Action Plan for mental health and equips participants to initiate supportive conversations and recognise stress within a socially aware framework. This course prepares learners to be proactive in supporting a workplace culture that prioritises the social elements impacting mental wellbeing.

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  • Duration: The course is designed to be completed over a 3-week period, during which you’ll engage in online learning modules, participate in live sessions, and complete your assessment.
  • Format: The course is self-paced with live online sessions. While the core content, including the assessment, is structured within the 3-week timeframe, you will also gain lifetime access to our interactive online learning community for ongoing support and resources.
  • Assessment: You will complete a 40-minute verbal assessment via Zoom to demonstrate your understanding and earn certification. Detailed information about the assessment is available in the ‘Assessment Details‘ tab.
  • Certification: Upon successful completion, you’ll receive a recognised qualification at RQF Level 2 or SCQF Level 5.

 

This course is unique to MHScot, offering exclusive resources and continuous access to a supportive learning community, even after the 3-week course period.

This course will help you:

 

  • Place the social model at the core of mental health first aid.
  • Understand mental health, contributing factors to a decline, and the first aider’s role.
  • Offer support and start conversations on mental health.
  • Recognise and regulate stress.
  • Understand a wide range of mental health conditions (within the existing medical model) and behaviours.
  • Understand the impact of substance misuse on mental health.
  • Learn the First Aid Action Plan for mental health and how to put it into practice.
  • Implement a positive mental health culture in the workplace.
  • 9 Online Learning Modules: Covering essential topics and outcomes.
  • 2 Interactive Group Sessions: Participate in two 1.5-hour live Zoom sessions, led by an experienced facilitator, allowing for group discussion and deeper understanding.
  • 1-to-1 Assessment: Each participant will complete a 40-minute individual assessment via Zoom to demonstrate their knowledge and receive personalised feedback.

Throughout this course, you’ll have access to exclusive resources unique to MHScot, designed to enhance your learning experience:

  • Lifetime Community Access: Ongoing membership to our interactive online learning community.
  • Live Sessions: Engage in interactive online sessions led by experienced facilitators.
  • Mental Health Guide: A detailed First Aid for Mental Health guide, always accessible for reference.
  • Digital Certification: Earn a recognised digital certificate upon course completion.
  • Resource Library: Access a vast digital library with articles, videos, and more.
  • Drop-In Sessions: Regular sessions for ongoing support and guidance.
  • WhatsApp Group: Join a supportive WhatsApp group to stay connected with peers and facilitators.

To earn this qualification, you must pass a 40-minute verbal assessment via Zoom. The assessment includes multiple-choice and short-answer questions.

Minimum age: 14 years.

 

This course requires independent learning skills, including reading and self-learning.

Choose between:

 

  • FAA Level 2 Award in First Aid for Mental Health (RQF) – England, Wales, Northern Ireland.
  • Award in First Aid for Mental Health (SCQF Level 5) – Scotland.

 

Valid for three years from the date of achievement.

Our one-day, on-site course brings the same comprehensive syllabus as the online version to your workplace. Delivered in an interactive, engaging format, this training ensures active participation and practical application. The assessment is completed in a group setting at the end of the day. We also provide exclusive resources that are only available through MHScot, designed to support your learning journey.

 

Key Features:

 

  • Interactive, On-Site Delivery: A full day of training at your workplace, tailored to engage your team in an in-person environment.
  • Group Assessment: Conducted at the end of the day.
  • Exclusive Resources: Access to unique MHScot materials to enhance and extend learning.
  • Additional Support: Ongoing post-course support, including access to our resource library, drop-in sessions and WhatsApp group.

 

For more details on the resources we provide, visit the “Resources Provided” tab.

Company Bookings

Individual Booking (One-to-One)

£1,500 (+ VAT) for a group of 5–12 people (total cost).

£300 (+ VAT) per person for groups of 1–4 people.

If you are booking an on-site course at your organisation’s premises, there is an additional cost of £200 + VAT per course.

£360 (VAT-inc) per person

One-to-One learners have four weeks from the date of purchase to contact us and schedule two 1.5-hour LIVE Zoom guided learning sessions and a 40-minute assessment. The sessions and assessment must be scheduled within a 3-week time frame.

First Aid for Mental Health Testimonials

  • By doing First Aid for Mental Health Level 2, MHScot helped me by explaining better issues around Mental Health which I thought I already had a relatively clear understanding of. The main things that stood out were that asking someone about suicide does not suggest it to them as an option, no-one ever got worse by someone asking ‘How are you?’ and no-one chooses to become an addict. I am more convinced of physical health and mental health having equal priority, not only in the workplace. I would recommend MHScot to people who need convincing that ‘manning-up’ and ‘soldiering-on’ is an effective health and well-being approach.

    Glasgow City Council - www.glasgow.gov.uk

  • By offering First Aid for Mental Health Level 2 online, it made it easier to reach more people in the company, especially in rural areas. I found that the experience has helped me understand my own mental health a bit better. I have started to think more about my physical health and how making small changes can be positive for my mental health. I feel happy knowing that I am better equipped to be able to help someone if needed. I would recommend the course to everyone. I think it's beneficial even just to refresh your memory and make you think about what you already know. Knowing how many people suffer from poor mental health, it is important for people to be able to understand that better and offer help.

    Scottish Sea Farms - https://scottishseafarms.com

  • By doing First Aid for Mental Health Level 2, MHScot helped me understand the benefits of having mental health 1st aiders in the workplace. The main thing that stood out was that we need to remove stigma surrounding mental health conditions and find a way to promote and encourage speaking more openly about our mental health. I enjoyed hearing other people's experiences of mental health as part of the group sessions and realised that everyone knows someone or has suffered with poor mental at some point during their life. I would recommend MHScot to people who feel they would like to do some studying but in a supportive group/environment.

    West Dunbartonshire Council - www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk

  • I decided to do First Aid for Mental Health Level 2 because mental health is such an important subject, but so often not talked about, especially in the workplace. I hope to make a change to that, even in a small way. MHScot helped me by giving me the tools to broach some very difficult and emotive subjects, such as self-harm. Knowing how to start a conversation and listen well are skills I will use every day. The result was that I have resources galore at my fingertips, which has been really helpful. I also have confidence going into conversations about mental health with people I don't know so well as well as with friends and family. I found the experience empowering. I would recommend MHScot to people who need to to better understand mental health in the workplace, and in fact in any situation.

    Edinburgh Innovations - https://edinburgh-innovations.ed.ac.uk/

  • We approached MHScot to do First Aid for Mental Health Level 2 because as an organisation, we prioritise physical and mental wellbeing and were keen to arrange guided on-line mental health first aid training for three staff members. MHScot helped me by broadening my understanding of mental health and wellbeing and the role of a mental health first aider. We will now be able to support staff members during what is an especially difficult time due to the impact of Covid-19. We liked their friendly, approachable facilitator, Catherine Eadie. There was a good balance of self-directed learning and guided sessions. We found the experience hugely beneficial both individually and as an organisation. I would recommend MHScot to people who need any sort of mental health/wellbeing training.

    4J Studios - www.4jstudios.com

  • By doing the First Aid for Mental Health Level 2, MHScot helped me by providing a very comprehensive course with videos to support the modules and lots of downloadable information to use afterwards. The main things that stood out were the importance of the role of the Mental Health First Aider, the vast array of information and support available and how important my role will be as a manager with a fairly large staff. I feel much better equipped to provide support. I found the experience really informative and enjoyed the virtual group session with colleagues from other departments. I would recommend MHScot to people who need further information and advice about supporting people in the workplace with their mental health.

    West Dunbartonshire Council - www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk

  • By doing the First Aid for Mental Health Level 2, MHScot helped me by educating myself about Mental Health and the conditions that we may see in the workplace. It gave me the confidence to start conversations in the workplace and where to signpost colleagues to get help. The things that stood out were that we all have mental health and it is a continuum. Before the course I didn't think about the fact that everyone has mental health and that it can change from day to day. This way of thinking made it much easier to see why people with a mental health condition can have good days, but also why those without a mental health condition can have bad days. All the videos were very helpful, especially those where people who had suffered from mental health conditions talked. It reiterated the signs to look out for. I would recommend MHScot to people who need a positive mental health atmosphere in their workplace. It is a great course to start thinking about how to improve mental health for all staff.

    Bellahouston Academy

  • The First Aid for Mental Health Level 2 gave me the tools and information I needed to be able to have open and supportive conversations about mental health, not just with co-workers but with friends and relatives, too. The main learnings that stood out were how powerful a safe and open conversation can be for someone who is struggling with poor mental health, and the positive impact it can have on them to know that someone is listening and cares about them. The interactive real talk about suicide film was very powerful, and gave a really good example of how to handle a conversation like that, how to ask difficult questions, and put listening techniques into practice. I found the mental health continuum really interesting, and think that knowing we all have mental health and need to find ways to look after it that work for us is a really important message and I look forward to being part of bringing that message in to my workplace. I would recommend MHScot to everyone - we all have the ability to help someone who is struggling with their mental health, but often knowing what to say or how to start talking about it is our biggest barrier. I think if everyone had the knowledge and skills set out in this course, the world would seem a far less daunting place for people struggling with poor mental health or a diagnosed mental health condition.

    Edinburgh Innovations - https://edinburgh-innovations.ed.ac.uk

  • By doing the First Aid for Mental Health Level 2, MHScot helped me by providing clear information and links to further resources. The 3 things that stood out were the varied learning styles: reading; visuals; videos; interactive videos; discussion sessions, clearly organised and structured and a clear action plan for a mental health first aider. It has made me feel more confident that I could actually help someone, even when they are in a very difficult situation that you can't fix yourself, just by doing small things like listening to them and suggesting self-help/further resources. This would make me more likely to approach someone and start a conversation, and in cases this could potentially be a life-saving intervention. I would recommend MHScot to people who need confidence and skills to be able to help others who are struggling.

    The University of Edinburgh School of Biological Sciences - www.ed.ac.uk/biology

  • By doing First Aid for Mental Health Level 2, it gave me ways to recognise when someone is struggling and start a conversation. The main things that stood out were that the tutors were very knowledgeable, but also down-to-earth, that learning was achieved through many formats; video, face-to-face, reading etc. and that many resources were shared. I would recommend MHScot to people who need to be able to help and support their colleagues, friends and family.

    Scottish Sea Farms - https://scottishseafarms.com

  • By doing the First Aid for Mental Health Level 2, MHScot helped me by improving my knowledge of the immense resources available to help recognise the signs that someone may need help, and to help point signpost them in the appropriate manner. The main things that stood out were how important it is to look after yourself (can't pour from an empty cup), the range of knowledge when you pull different minds together and the importance of a work/life balance. I would recommend MHScot to people who need to learn how to care without taking the problems on themselves. People who need to be able to recognise the signs that some people may be holding back on what they are really thinking / experiencing. You need to be able to ask the right questions at the right time, and know how to follow through on everything you promise.

    Scottish Sea Farms - https://scottishseafarms.com

  • I wanted to do First Aid for Mental Health Level 2 because mental health is something I find really interesting and it is so often overlooked by people as being a "problem/drama" rather than a real health issue. I am really keen to help break that stigma and learn more about it so I can help others open up to the idea of it being as important as physical health. MHScot helped me by guiding me through ways to start a conversation with someone who might need help & what approach to take for different situations and mental health issues that someone could face. I found the experience interesting and useful. I would recommend MHScot to people who need to raise awareness of mental health in their workplace.

    The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland - www.edinburghzoo.org.uk

  • By doing First Aid for Mental Health Level 2, MHScot helped me by providing high quality training in mental health and mental health first aid, giving me skills that I can use immediately at work and in everyday life. The main things that stood out were that the training was delivered in a very thoughtful way, with a good modular structure, time for self reflection, and some face-to-face online learning sessions. It lead us through consideration of what mental health is, what the underlying causes might be, and how workplace and demands of work intersect with mental health. It also gave clear training around mental health first aiding, and the CARE process for assessing and supporting anyone experiencing poor mental health. I would recommend MHScot to people who need to understand their own and others' mental health better, including those who wish to be mental health first aiders.

    The University of Edinburgh School of Biological Sciences - www.ed.ac.uk/biology