Welcome to MHFA England
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is exactly what you might think – a first aid approach to mental health. Originally founded and developed by Betty Kitchener and Professor Tony Jorm in Australia, MHFA has been successfully introduced around the world, in countries as widespread as Hong Kong, Singapore, Finland, Canada, USA and Scotland.
About MHFA England
Mental Health First Aid England is a Community Interest Company (CIC), providing the MHFA and Youth MHFA instructor training programme. Approved instructors then go on to deliver either the MHFA or Youth MHFA course. Usually taught over two days, the course is evidence-based and has been developed and regulated by the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE). It covers the causes, symptoms and treatments of common mental health problems. Please click here (pdf) here (text only) for more details on the MHFA course, and here (pdf) here (text only) for details on the MHFA Youth course (links open in new window)
In 2011 we also launched the one day Trauma Stress Reaction (TSR) course which is for those suffering from or caring for people with traumatic stress reaction or PTSD. Full details found here.
Our aim is to give everyone the knowledge and confidence to recognise signs of mental health problems, encourage someone to seek the right help, and to reduce the stigma around mental illness.
"The Early Psychosis Declaration identified 'community awareness raising and training of generic and specialist workers' as one of its five priority areas for action. MHFA is one major piece in the jigsaw moving us nearer towards achieving this goal. By raising awareness and encouraging people to seek help earlier, the Mental Health First Aid training initiative has established itself as an effective and important way of supporting early intervention in psychosis services in England"
David Shiers and Jo Smith, Former Joint National Early Intervention Leads
National Mental Health Development Unit
The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) has accredited the Mental Health First Aid instructor training programme. MHFA England also enjoys the patronage of Lord Kamlesh Patel.
