Empower Your Workplace with Mental Health First Aid Training
Supporting Employee Well-being with MHFA Training
Southwest now offers a wide range of mental health first aid training including the Understanding Mental Health in the Workplace for Managers to support organisations. Our training is delivered by experienced and qualified ‘Mental Health First Aid (MHFA England)’ instructors.
You’ll learn to recognise warning signs of mental ill-health and develop the skills and confidence to approach and support someone while keeping yourself safe. What’s more, you’ll gain an understanding of how to support positive wellbeing and tackle stigma in the world around you.
As an organisation/employer, being mental health aware displays your recognition of the importance of employee wellbeing in the workplace. It can increase morale, teamwork, and communication, lessen absenteeism, lower staff turnover, and as a result, lower recruitment and training costs. In the UK mental ill-health costs employers up 45 billion pounds every year through lack of productivity and absence.
Our open courses are delivered in Andover or can be delivered in-house nationwide.
The manager’s role is to lead, mentor, and support an employee to engage proactively in their employment, contributing to the organisation’s growth and working in…
The objective of the Introduction to Mental Health and Wellbeing qualification is to prepare learners to progress to a qualification in another subject area and/or…
Understanding Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
Empowering Communities through Mental Health Education
MHFA came to England in 2007 and was launched under the Department of Health: National Institute of Mental Health in England (NIMHE) as part of a national approach to improving public mental health.
Mental health education empowers people to care for themselves and others by reducing stigma through understanding. Southwest hopes to break down barriers to the support that people may need to stay well, recover, or manage their symptoms – to thrive in learning, work, and life.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a training course that teaches people how to identify, understand and help someone who may be experiencing a mental health issue.
Furthermore, MHFA won’t teach you to be a therapist, but it will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis – and even potentially stop a crisis from happening.
Benefits of attending our Mental Health courses
Our courses will:
- Give a deeper understanding of the issues that impact on and relate to people’s mental health
- Teach practical skills that can be used every day, including being able to spot the signs and symptoms of mental health issues and feel confident guiding people towards appropriate support
Independent research and evaluation show that taking part in an MHFA course:
- Raises awareness and mental health literacy
- Reduces stigma around mental ill-health and feel confident guiding people towards appropriate support
- Boosts knowledge and confidence in dealing with mental health issues
- Encourages people to start a conversation with a person who may be experiencing a mental health issue
- Promotes early intervention which enables recovery
Areas We Serve
Find professional Mental Health First Aid Training in your area. Choose your nearest location below to explore our FAA-accredited courses and develop the knowledge and confidence to support mental wellbeing in the workplace.
ELCAS FAQ's
What are Mental Health First Aid Training Courses?
Mental health first aid training courses provide those who attend with skills on how to identify the onset of mental ill-health, provide first aid support, and guide someone toward professional help. Such classes are directed at developing confidence, communication, and awareness to react with the best response in life.
Who can take these courses?
Any person 18 years and over is normally eligible to join—no previous experience in mental health is expected. MHFA does not have a specific audience in mind: employees, managers, community members, or whoever desires to benefit others or develop mental health literacy. This is in line with the usual MHFA practice.
What are the subjects of the courses?
The training encompasses the knowledge of the most frequent mental health needs, including anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma. It also involves showing how to approach a person in crisis, non-judgmental listening, and how the use of the MHFA action plan can intervene safely and effectively.
What is the mode of delivery of Mental Health First Aid Training Courses?
SWT Health and Safety offers classroom programmes that are taught by trained MHFA instructors. In-house training can also be booked, and the organisations can have flexibility in terms of the schedule and personalised training delivery to their teams.
What is the advantage of doing this course?
The participants can enhance knowledge of mental health problems, alleviate stigma, enhance confidence in recognising distress, and promote prompt intervention (according to SWT Health and Safety). MHFA internal studies indicate that MHFA training enhances mental health literacy and helps people have helpful conversations.
Is this qualification enough to qualify to be a mental health professional?
No. The training equips you with first aid, rather than diagnosing as well as administering therapy. Your job is to identify concerns, reassure, and propose relevant professional assistance whenever necessary.
Our Vision
- We deliver accredited NEBOSH and IOSH training you can genuinely trust — fully approved and recognised everywhere.
- Learn your way — join us online, in the classroom, or let us bring the training to your workplace.
- Our pricing stays genuinely competitive, so you get quality without the heavy cost.
- Our learners consistently achieve pass rates above the national average — and that’s something we’re proud of.
- Break up your course fees with simple, interest-free payment plans that keep learning stress-free.
- We put real care into every course — great trainers, clear guidance, and support whenever you need it.
- Attend at our accessible training centre or study remotely — whatever fits your lifestyle best.