Mental Health First Aid accreditation

• Full MHFA accreditation course
  The full course (two days in person or four sessions online) is in-depth. It teaches techniques to provide help to someone experiencing a mental health problem before professional help is obtained.
  Delegates who complete the course will become accredited MHFAiders. This means you will take on the responsibility of providing help and assistance, as well as promoting mental health and wellbeing in your local area. You will be added to your departmental list of MHFAiders. 
• Half-day course
  The half-day course is not an in-depth training course. Instead, it is an introduction to mental health, particularly aimed at managers and those with supervisory responsibilities.

• Responding promptly to calls for assistance within your area
• Providing support within your competence
• Summoning further help, if necessary
• Registering details of conversations in line with confidentiality guidelines
• Maintaining MHFA competence as specified by MHFA England by refreshing your skills every three years
• Attending a minimum of one CPD session a year.

Please refer to the Being an MHFAider - Your guide to the role document to understand more about the expectations of the role.

You will also be asked to help promote health and wellbeing events around the university.

• Do I need prior knowledge of mental health to attend the two-day course?
  No, prior knowledge is not required. An interest in mental health and wellbeing is strongly advisable.
• When will I hear if my application has been successful?
  Your place will be confirmed, or you will be provided with feedback if you are unsuccessful within seven working days of receipt.
• Why is the university targeting certain staff to become MHFA-qualified?
  There is an uneven spread of MHFAers across the university. To ensure a more even distribution of readily available MHFAiders, the university wishes to target staff across campuses, departments, and job families. This is aimed to be similar to the setup and supply of Physical First Aiders.
• I can do one day of the course, but not the other/I can make some of the sessions, but not all. Can I still attend?
  No, you must attend both days (face-to-face)/all four sessions (online) for the entire duration of the course.
• Can I do the first day of the course and then the second day another time? / Can I do one session of the course at a later date?
  No, you must attend both days (face-to-face)/all four sessions (online) for the entire duration of the course.
• I have to leave early on one of the days. Can I still attend?
  No, you must attend both days (face-to-face)/all four sessions (online) for the entire duration of the course.
• I have an existing mental health condition. Can I still attend?
  You are welcome to apply, but please be mindful that the course can be emotionally demanding and can evoke a strong feeling, especially for delegates who are currently experiencing or supporting mental ill health. It may be worth emailing the Inclusion Team with your details so we can discuss the best option for you.
• A number of my colleagues in the department want to apply for the same course. Are we able to?
  A maximum of 10 people from any given area in the university or department can attend a course. If you have more people interested, please email the Inclusion Team to discuss your department's training needs.
• Can my manager and I both attend the same course?
  This is a decision that you and your manager must discuss together to ensure it is operationally feasible. You will also have to decide whether you will both be able to participate freely in the course.
• What if I know people on my course and don’t feel I can fully participate?
  We will send the delegate list one week prior to the course start date. You will have an opportunity to see a list of names and decide whether to go ahead or be moved to another course.
• Do I have to supply my own materials?
  You will need to bring a pen and a notepad. A course workbook and welcome refreshments (if face-to-face) are provided. Lunch is not provided.

Once enrolled, you must attend the full duration of the course. This means all four half-days for the online version and both full days for the face-to-face version.

If you cancel your place on the course less than ten working days before the first session, we will charge a £150 cancellation fee.

If you attend only part of the course (for example, three out of four online sessions, or one of the face-to-face days), you will have to pay the full cancellation fee and re-enrol for the entire course. Re-enrolment for just one part of a future course is not possible.

If you miss more than 15 minutes of any session, unless there are extenuating circumstances, we reserve the right to remove you from the course while charging the full cancellation fee. If you wish to qualify as an MHFAider, you will have to re-enrol onto another course and attend it in full.

Please email the Inclusion Team if you would like to cancel your space in this session.

• When will I receive my certificate?
  You will receive your certificate digitally from MHFA England once you complete the feedback form that they send you.
• How will people know I am an MHFAider? 
  You will be added to your departmental list of MHFAiders.
  We encourage you to wear your green MHFA lanyard when on campus, and you may want to add your MHFAider status to your email signature or personal web page.
• What happens if no one contacts me in my role as an MHFAider?
  You are still an MHFAider, and your skills are still essential. You do not know when you may be called upon personally or professionally.
• What should I do if I am unable to be an MHFAider for personal or professional reasons? Can I step down?
  This is not ideal; however, we do appreciate that life and work commitments mean that you are not able to do this. If you need to step down, please inform your local First Aid Coordinator.
• How is my interaction as an MHFAider recorded?
  An online form is available on the MHFAiders Teams site to capture interactions.