Become a certified Youth Mental Health First Aider.
This two-day Youth Mental Health First Aiders course is an evidence-based course certified by Mental Health First Aid England. Anyone who comes into contact with young people has the opportunity to play an active role in supporting their mental wellbeing.
Through this course you will develop the skills and confidence to spot the signs and symptoms of mental health issues in a young person, offer mental health first aid and guide them towards the support they need. Evidence says that in doing so, you can speed up a young person's recovery, stop issues from developing into a crisis, and ultimately save lives.
This course will provide Youth Mental Health First Aid skills, it won't teach you to be a therapist, but we will teach you to appropriately listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis - and even potentially stop a crisis from happening.
Benefits of Youth Mental Health First Aid:
• Reduces stigma around youth mental health issues.
• Increases confidence to have a supportive conversation about mental health.
• Provides an action plan for supporting young people experiencing emotional distress or poor mental health.
• Provides comprehensive guidance about professional support pathways, as well as what an appointment entails and how a young person can prepare.
• Promotes equity and understanding around mental health from different perspectives.
• Helps build supportive environments for young people where they feel they can be open about their mental health.
• Promotes early intervention and recovery, which can prevent a young person's mental health from deteriorating.
• Encourages self-care and gives adults the tools to look after their own mental health to set an example for young people.
• Access to the Association of Mental Health First Aiders with exclusive support and benefits.
Details
This course is designed for anyone working with children and young people aged 8-18, including schools, Children & Families Services, third sector organisations, and private providers. It is delivered through interactive activities, presentations, and discussions in a psychologically safe environment, with group sizes capped at 16 (minimum 10) to support meaningful participation.
The programme is delivered over four structured sessions:
Session 1: Introduction to mental health and Youth MHFA, including influencing factors, the Mental Health Continuum, and key frameworks (Frame of Reference, Stress Container).
Session 2: Understanding the adolescent brain, the Youth MHFA action plan, anxiety and panic attacks, trauma, professional boundaries, and applying learning to case studies.
Session 3: Exploring depression, self-harm, suicide, supporting marginalised groups, and the importance of self-care.
Session 4: Addictive behaviours and substance misuse, psychosis, disordered eating, recovery, reviewing the Youth MHFAider role and boundaries and applying the Youth MHFA action plan through scenarios and practice.
Further details about this course can be found at http://www.schoolwellbeing.co.uk/mental-health-wellbeing/pages/youth-mental-health-first-aid-training
Outcome
This two-day course qualifies you as a Youth Mental Health First Aider.
Youth Mental Health First Aiders will be able to:
• Explain what mental health is.
• Describe how to look after their own mental health and wellbeing.
• Describe the signs of poor mental health in young people.
• Explain some of the risk factors associated with poor mental health in young people.
• Demonstrate how to apply the Youth MHFA action plan (ALGEE) in a Youth Mental Health First Aid conversation.
• Describe the role of a Youth MHFAider.
Everyone who completes the course will be able to take away with them:
• A Youth Mental Health First Aid digital manual to refer to whenever you need it,
• A workbook to support your learning throughout the course including some helpful tools to support your own mental health,
• A wallet-sized reference card with the Youth MHFA action plan (ALGEE).
• A Youth MHFA lanyard.
• A Youth MHFA pen.
• A digital Youth MHFAider certificate valid for three years.
• An invitation to the Association of Mental Health First Aiders - England's 1st and only membership body for MHFA, and the largest community of its kind.
• Members will receive exclusive access to a wide range of resources, from training and qualifications to events and research.
Following the programme, delegates will receive a certificate from Mental Health First Aid England confirming their attendance on the course and their status as a Youth Mental Health First Aider.
Trainer
Health & Wellbeing TeamBooking information
Cost: £210 per delegate ( with a current Health & Wellbeing SLA ) £290 per delegate ( without a current Health & Wellbeing SLA )
Note: This training is not covered by Health & Wellbeing SLA credits.
Bespoke delivery available at your venue: £2,500 (up to 16 participants).
Venues must seat 16 plus two trainers, support presentations, and provide a quiet space if required.
Duration: Two full days ( 8:45am arrival for 9:00am-5:00pm ). Full attendance is required for accreditation.
Refreshments: Not provided. Please bring your own; hot and cold water available.
Cancellations: Minimum 5 working days' notice required. Late cancellations/non-attendance charged in full ('pay as you go'); SLA schools incur £30 per delegate. Minimum of 8 participants required (licence condition).
Full attendance is mandatory-no continuation or refund for missed sessions (except illness or bereavement).
Trainer: Steven Body - 07891 273134 steven.body@leeds.gov.uk Enquiries: schoolwellbeing@leeds.gov.uk