Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

Empowering Confident Conversations with Young People

What is Youth Mental Health First Aid?

This two-day MHFA England certificate course, is designed to equip adults, such as educators, youth-workers, parents, and carers, the confidence to spot when someone’s struggling with their mental health, and the tools to step in, listen, and guide them towards the right support (typically ages 8–18). You’ll learn how to recognise the early signs, respond in a crisis, and hold safe, supportive conversations without trying to fix or diagnose. At the end of the two days training you will become a certified Youth MHFAider®.

Course Content

What can I expect from the Youth Mental Health First Aid course?

You'll embark on a structured learning journey divided into four manageable sessions over two days, blending interactive activities, presentations, and real-life scenario practice, each centred around the proven MHFA action plan to prepare you to confidently support the mental health of young people.

Day 1:

Introduction to mental health and Youth MHFA role
Influences on youth wellbeing (adolescent brain, continuum)
Using the Stress Container and MHFA action plan
Practical scenario work: anxiety, panic, trauma first aid

Day 2:

Revisiting the action plan
Supporting underrepresented or marginalised youth
Identifying and supporting self-harm, depression, addiction, psychosis, and eating disorders
Recovery principles, self-care, boundaries and confidentiality

Training formats include in‑person classroom, live virtual (MHFA England certificate), and private group sessions for teams of six or more

Entry Requirements

This course is intentionally accessible—no prior mental health training needed. Participants are simply required to:

Be 18 years old or above
Be supporting young people aged 8–18

Assessment

Designed for practical learning over two days, the course includes:

16 hours of interactive training across two consecutive days
Engaging learning methods: group discussions, videos, workshops, and case studies
Assessment through participation: no exams, learning is measured by engagement and reflection
A supportive environment: safe space to practice skills without pressure to disclose personal experience

Certification

On completion, participants will receive:

A digital MHFAider® certificate and official lanyard
Three-year access to the MHFAider Support App® and Online Learning Hub
Monthly Awareness Webinars and MHFAider briefings for continued learning and community engagement
Post-training email support from accredited MHFA instructors

FAQs

Available training dates

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FAQs

What is Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA)?

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is an accredited program that teaches adults how to spot early warning signs of mental health challenges in young people and use a structured 5‑step action plan to offer initial support in both crisis and non‑crisis situations.

Why is Youth Mental Health First Aid important?

Because around 1 in 5 young people experience mental health issues—such as anxiety, depression, psychosis, self‑harm or substance use, YMHFA equips adults to intervene early, reduce stigma, and promote help-seeking behaviours that can transform outcomes.

Who should take Youth Mental Health First Aid training?

YMHFA is ideal for anyone aged 18+ who lives, works with, or supports adolescents and young adults, including teachers, parents, youth workers, coaches, mentors, and community leaders.

What age range does YMHFA focus on?

The program is specifically tailored for young people aged approximately 8–18 years, though it can be adapted for ages up to 24 in some settings, ensuring it meets developmental needs during adolescence.

What does the YMHFA action plan include?

Participants learn the ALGEE model, a five-step action plan to:

Assess risk of suicide or harm
Listen non‑judgmentally
Give reassurance and information
Encourage professional help
Encourage self‑help and peer support

What are the benefits of Youth Mental Health First Aid training?

Research shows YMHFA significantly increases mental health knowledge, reduces stigma, boosts confidence in offering help, and improves participants’ intentions to support young people, benefits lasting over several years.

How does YMHFA differ from youth counselling?

YMHFA provides initial first aid support, not therapy or diagnosis. It focuses on early identification, empathetic listening, and signposting to professional help, until formal care is available.