MHFA England · Adult
Adult Mental Health First Aid course
Two days in Winchester or London, or four live sessions online
Delivered by
Peter Larkum
Award WinningMHFA England instructor
since 2009
This course qualifies you as a Mental Health First Aider, certified by MHFA England, whether you take it in person or online.
At a glance
- Price
- £325 plus VAT per person (open courses)
- How long
- Two consecutive days in person, or four live online sessions of 4 hours (09:30 to 13:30)
- Where
- Winchester, London, live online, or at your workplace
- Group size
- Up to 16 people, so everyone gets support and a say
- You get
- MHFA England certificate, manual, quick reference card and workbook
Who it's for
Anyone aged 16 or over who wants to support the people around them at work. It suits:
- Staff who want to become their organisation's Mental Health First Aiders
- Managers and team leaders who want the confidence to start a difficult conversation
- HR, wellbeing and people teams building a support network
- Anyone who has ever wanted to help a colleague and didn't know what to say
No experience needed. You don't need to be an expert, just willing to listen.
By the end you'll be able to
- Understand mental health and the factors that affect wellbeing
- Spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues
- Step in, reassure and support a person in distress, with confidence
- Listen without judgement
- Guide someone to further support, whether that's self-help, their employer, the NHS or a mix
The course follows the MHFA England action plan, taught through short presentations, group discussions and practical activities. Expect to laugh as well as learn.
Can't make these dates? We can run a private course for your team. Ask about in-house training
What delegates say
★★★★★
“The best instructor I have ever had for a course. Very engaging, challenging and amusing when it needed to be. He knew his stuff and delivered the course within a language we could understand and take in.”
★★★★★
“I thought the course was very well put together, it covered a lot of information in 2 days. Peter was a great instructor, he was passionate, engaging and knowledgeable and made a tough topic easier to digest.”
★★★★★
“I attended the MHFA Online Course in May 2025, Peter made the course engaging and fun even when some of the topics can be tough to listen to. Peter ensures that everyone is included and gets a say if they would like. I would highly recommend this course and I learnt so much. Thank you Pete!”
★★★★★
“Peter Larkum is an amazing engaging trainer. His knowledge, energy and passion for Mental Health speaks for itself and I would highly recommend this course.”
★★★★★
“The topics discussed were of particular interest to me in my role and the way it was delivered by Peter made all the difference. Some of the topics were particularly challenging, but Peter’s delivery style made it easier to understand and build confidence.”
★★★★★
“Absolutely loved this course, whilst the subject content was heavy the way it was delivered was perfect. There was a nice pace throughout each topic and I learnt so much. Such a blessing to be able to have access to this training.”
★★★★★
“Peter is clearly committed & passionate to improving Mental Health & his enthusiasm during the course made what could be a very dark subject much easier to process”
★★★★★
“Despite some serious subject matters Pete was able to share excellent knowledge and keep us all energised throughout.”
FAQs
Is this the official MHFA England course?
Yes. Peter is an accredited MHFA England Instructor Member, and everyone who completes the course is certified by MHFA England as a Mental Health First Aider.
Is online as good as in person?
The content and certificate are the same. Online runs as four live 4-hour sessions with Peter (09:30 to 13:30), never pre-recorded, with plenty of discussion and small-group work.
Do I have to attend every session?
Yes. To be certified you need to attend all four sessions, or both days in person.
Is it emotionally heavy?
The course covers serious topics, including suicide and self-harm. Peter keeps the room safe and supportive, and you can step out at any time. Many delegates say it was lighter and more enjoyable than they expected.
Where are the in-person courses held?
In Winchester and central London. The full venue address, with a map, is on each date’s booking page.
What happens after the course?
You keep your manual and workbook. MHFA England recommends a refresher within three years, and Peter runs a four-hour online MHFA Refresher most months.
Can my organisation pay by invoice?
Yes. Card payment is taken when you book online. To pay by invoice instead, email hello@peterlarkum.com and we’ll arrange it.
Can you train our whole team?
Yes. Peter runs private courses at your workplace or online, for up to 16 people per course. See below.
Read more answers to common questions
More about the course
Format
Online course: 4 live online sessions of 4 hours (09:30 to 13:30)
In person course: 4 sessions across 2 consecutive days
Learning takes place through a mix of presentations, group discussions and workshop activities
Each session is built around a Mental Health First Aid action plan
We limit numbers to 16 people per course so that the instructor can keep people safe and supported while they learn
What you get
Everyone who completes the course gets:
A certificate of attendance to say you are a Mental Health First Aider
A manual to refer to whenever you need it
A quick reference card for the Mental Health First Aid action plan
A workbook including a helpful toolkit to support your own mental health
Course content, session by session
Session 1
Why Mental Health First Aid?
The Mental Health First Aid action plan
What is mental health?
Impact of mental health issues
Stigma and discrimination
What is depression?
Symptoms of depression
Risk factors for depression
Depression in the workplace
Session 2
Suicide figures
Alcohol, drugs and mental health
First aid for suicidal crisis
Non-judgemental listening skills
First aid for depression
Treatment and resources for depression
Self-care
Session 3
What is an anxiety disorder?
First aid for anxiety disorders
Crisis first aid after a traumatic event
Alcohol, drugs and anxiety disorders
Treatment and resources for anxiety disorders
Cognitive distortions and CBT
Personality disorders
Eating disorders
Self-harm
Session 4
What is psychosis?
Risk factors for psychosis
Alcohol, drugs and psychosis
Schizophrenia
Bipolar disorder
Warning signs of developing psychosis
Crisis first aid for acute psychosis
Treatment and resources for psychosis
Recovery and building resources
Action planning for using MHFA
What other delegates say
“It might sound strange to say I really enjoyed the course, given the serious and thought-provoking nature of the topics, but I genuinely did enjoy the entire two-day session. Peter is fantastic at creating a comfortable environment and normalising conversations around mental health.”
Renu C., Fujikura Europe
“Pete guided us through challenging mental health topics with sensitivity, grounding and humour. I feel encouraged and equipped for my new role as a Mental Health First Aider.”
Katherine A.
“I attended the MHFA Online Course in May 2025, Peter made the course engaging and fun even when some of the topics can be tough to listen to… I would highly recommend this course and I learnt so much.”
Georgia D., Standard Aero
“Excellent course, I have done many courses over the last 30 years. This was top.”
Staff at Manchester Air Group
Train your whole team
Bring Mental Health First Aid to your workplace. Peter runs private courses on site or online, on dates that suit you.
Every organisation is different, so tell us a little about your team and choose what happens next: a tailored quote, or a short call to talk it through.
Alternatively, email hello@peterlarkum.com directly.