Mental Health First Aid Training

Mental health is a priority for all and these courses will provide you with the confidence and skills you need to look after your own mental health, as well as supporting others.

Did you know?

1 in 4 people experience mental health issues each year.
Mental ill health costs £105 billion in England each year.
72 million working days are lost each year as a result of mental ill health.
The cost to employers for mental ill health is £34.9 billion each year.
15 people each day took their own lives in 2022.
1 in 5 people have suicidal thoughts over their lifetime.

Who can become a Mental Health First Aider?

This course is ideal for anyone over the age of 18 who is looking to gain the knowledge and skills to spot the signs of people experiencing poor mental health, and to be confident to start a conversation/signpost a person to appropriate support.

What will I learn?

This course will train you as a Mental Health First Aider and will give you:

Practical skills to spot the signs of people experiencing poor mental health.
Knowledge and confidence to support and reassure a person in distress.
Tools and techniques to look after your own wellbeing.
Improved interpersonal skills and enhanced non-judgmental listening.

Our certified Mental Health First Aid course is fully accredited by Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England and is suitable for individuals and businesses. Once completed, you will receive a certificate of attendance to authenticate that you are a Mental Health First Aider.

Available Courses

Mental Health First Aid Course

Train as a Mental Health First Aider® and receive three years of certification, plus access to ongoing benefits by joining the Association of Mental Health First Aiders®.

Upcoming dates

12th – 13th June 2025
Deadline for applications 6th June 2025

2nd – 3rd October 2025
Deadline for applications: 25th September 2025

For ages 16+
2-day course (14hrs)
Available in-person
Minimum: 6 people, maximum: 12 people
Available to individuals and organisations to book
Price: £300 per person

This course is ideal for individuals who would like to become an MHFAider® to gain the knowledge, awareness, and skills to spot signs of people experiencing poor mental health, be confident to start a conversation, and signpost a person to appropriate support.

In addition to the course, you will become part of the largest dedicated community of Mental Health First Aiders in England, the Association of Mental Health First Aiders, gaining access to resources, ongoing learning, and 24/7 digital support, to give you the tools and knowledge you need to carry out the role effectively and confidently, whether that be in your workplace, a volunteer role, or in the community.

As an MHFAider® you will be able to:

Recognise those that may be experiencing poor mental health and provide them with first-level support and early intervention
Encourage a person to identify and access sources of professional help and other supports
Practise active listening and empathy
Have a conversation with improved mental health literacy around language and stigma
Discuss the MHFAider® role in depth, including boundaries and confidentiality
Practise self-care
Know how to use the MHFAider Support App®
Know how to access a dedicated text service provided by Shout and ongoing learning opportunities with MHFA England

MHFA Champion Course

Become an MHFA Champion and gain an understanding of common mental health issues and how to provide initial support.

Upcoming dates

17th July 2025
Deadline for applications: 10th July 2025

For ages 16+
1-day course (7hrs)
Available in-person
Minimum: 6 people, maximum: 12 people
Available to individuals and organisations to book
Price: £185 per person

As an MHFA® Champion, you will gain:

An understanding of common mental health issues
Knowledge and confidence to advocate for mental health awareness
Ability to spot signs of mental ill health
Skills to support positive wellbeing

Mental Health First Aid Refresher Course

We believe that mental health is just as important as physical health – and like physical first aid, Mental Health First Aid training should be kept up to date. If you’ve already completed the 2-day MHFA course, it’s recommended to take a refresher course every 3 years to keep your skills current.

Upcoming dates

12th September 2025
Deadline for applications: 5th September 2025

This is a refresher course for those who have already completed a MHFA® course.

For ages 16+
Half-day course (4hrs)
Available in-person
Minimum: 6 people, maximum: 16 people
Available to individuals and organisations to book
Price: £140 per person

The 4-hour MHFA Refresher course gives you the chance to:

Renew your skills
Update your knowledge of mental health support
Practice applying the Mental Health First Aid action plan
Access three years of MHFAider® Support and Benefits

Mental Health Skills for Managers Course

To create a mentally healthy workplace it is vital to build supportive relationships between managers and team members. This four-hour training course will provide a consistent approach to mental health and wellbeing, promoting healthy performance across the whole organisation.

Upcoming dates

6th June 2025
Deadline for applications: 29th May 2025

For ages 18+
Half-day course (4hrs)
Available in person
Minimum: 6 people, maximum: 16 people
Price: £150 per person

This evidence-based course is ideal for people managers who want to help create an open culture around mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.

This course will teach you to:

Feel confident having open conversations about mental health with their team members
Identify if an employee may be experiencing poor mental health
Appropriately signpost to available support
Role model good self-care practice and know where to go for support and guidance for themselves

South Kent Mind also offer bespoke training solutions, either virtually or delivered in person at your premises.

Booking information

All training courses will take place at our centre in Folkestone. For booking onto courses, please contact us either by phone on 01303 250090 or via email on [email protected]. Alternatively, please use the contact form below.