MHFA Champions

Introduction

The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Champion is a one-day course.

This course is only offered by MHFA England.

What Will I Learn?

This awareness and skills course qualifies individuals as MHFA Champions, giving them:

• Knowledge and confidence to provide Mental Health First Aid for the most common mental health issues.
• An understanding of how to help build a mentally healthy workplace, challenge stigma and support positive well-being.

Course Format

• One-day face-to-face course.
• Learning takes place through a mix of presentations, group discussions and workshop activities.
• Limited to 16 people per course.

Course Content

• Session 01:
  • About Mental Health First Aid.
  • About mental health and stress in the workplace.
  • Stigma and discrimination.
  • Depression.
  • Anxiety disorders.
  • Other mental health issues (eating disorders, self-harm, psychosis).
  • Early warning signs of mental ill health.
  • Alcohol, drugs and mental health.
• Session 02:
  • Applying the Mental Health First Aid action plan
  • Action 1: Approach the person, assess and assist with any crisis.
  • Suicide.
  • Action 2: Listen and communicate non-judgmentally.
  • Action 3: Give support and information.
  • Action 4: Encourage the person to get appropriate professional help.
  • Action 5: Encourage other supports.
  • Recovery
  • Building a mentally healthy workplace.
  • Action planning for using MHFA.

What Does the Course Not Do?

The course does not train people to be mental health workers.

It offers basic general information about mental health problems.

The knowledge presented and understanding developed in the course helps to remove stigma and fear and to give confidence in approaching a person in distress.

MHFA is an initial response to distress and all participants on the course understand that this help is given only until other suitable or professional help can be found.

Accreditation

You will get a certificate of attendance.

Other Goodies

• A manual to refer to whenever you need it.
• A quick reference card for the MHFA action plan.
• A workbook including a helpful toolkit to support own mental health.
• A copy of the Line Managers’ Resource, an invaluable source of advice on how to support an employee experiencing mental ill health.