Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid training is a 12 hour intensive course which was developed in Australia and is based on the concept of general first aid training.

One in four British adults will experience at least one diagnosable mental health problem in any one year.  The intention of the Mental Health First Aid programme in the UK is to promote awareness of mental health issues and to train non-professionals to recognise those affected by mental health problems and offer initial help and guidance towards professional support. By training these "mental health first aiders" within the workplace and the community, it aims to tackle the prejudice and stigma traditionally associated with mental health problems, and to improve the outcomes for those affected together with their families, friends, colleagues and employers.

After an encouraging pilot in Scotland in 2004, the Scottish Government, through Health Scotland, decided to invest in the national rollout of courses. The course has been adapted to better suit the needs of the people in Scotland and is being delivered as Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA).

Following the success in Scotland, the course has recently been adapted for the English audience and is starting to be rolled out as England's Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), forming part of a new national training programme developed and regulated by the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) and England's Care Services Improvement Partnerships (CSIP).

Alpha Plus Training delivers both SMHFA and MHFA courses in the UK.