First Aid for the Mind

What is a Mental Health First Aider and what does the training cover?

A Mental Health First Aider (MHFAider) is someone trained to spot the signs of poor mental health, start a supportive conversation, and guide a person towards professional help. The MHFA England course takes two days, is evidence based, and gives you a recognised certification. It does not make you a therapist. It makes you the person who notices, listens, and knows what to do next.

Here's the thing. Every workplace has physical first aiders. We accept without question that someone should know what to do if a colleague collapses or cuts their hand. Yet when a colleague is struggling with their mental health, which is far more common, most of us freeze. We worry about saying the wrong thing, so we say nothing at all.

The course changes that. Over two days you learn a practical framework: how to identify when someone might be struggling, how to help in the moment, and how to guide them towards the right support. You practise real conversations in a safe space. You leave with confidence, not just a certificate.

I've been an MHFA England Instructor Member since 2009, and I've watched thousands of people go from "I wouldn't know what to say" to being the person their whole team trusts. That shift is genuinely life changing. Sometimes literally.

For me, this is the single most valuable qualification a workplace can invest in.

Ready to train?

See upcoming MHFA course dates: https://www.peterlarkum.com/courses-and-events

or email hello@peterlarkum.com to book in-house training for your team.