This two day mental health first aid training is for SENCOs, teachers and practitioners working in both mainstream and special educational settings.

The training is taking place on the 24th and 25th April 2023

It is an internationally recognised training course, designed to teach people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first aid basis. At MHFA England we offer a range of courses tailored for people who teach, work, live with and care for young people aged 8 to 18.

Youth MHFA Two Day course

Completing the two day course qualifies you as a Youth Mental Health First Aider. Youth Mental Health First Aiders have:

• An in depth understanding of young people’s mental health and factors that affect wellbeing
• Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues
• Confidence to reassure and support a young person in distress
• Enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening
• Knowledge to help a young person recover their health by guiding them to further support -whether that’s through self-help sites, their place of learning, the NHS, or a mix engaging with parents, carers and external agencies where appropriate
• Ability to support a young person with a long term mental health issue or disability to thrive
• Tools to look after your own mental wellbeing

The course is delivered in four manageable chunks:

• About mental health
• Depression and anxiety
• Suicide and psychosis
• Self-harm and eating disorders

It focuses on the issues faced by young people today, such as cyber bullying and substance misuse, and teaches how to promote protective factors and good parenting.

Course leader Lorraine Petersen is a MHFA quality assured instructor and has many years’ experience of working with an array of children with special and additional needs within mainstream settings and hands-on experience of the issues relating to caring for and educating these children. In June 2009 Lorraine was awarded the OBE for Services to Education. She received the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Education Research Awards in 2010, and in 2013 the Outstanding Achievement Award at BETT.

This two day course costs £320 and includes lunch. Everyone who completes the course receives a Youth MHFA Manual to refer to whenever they need it, and a certificate to say they are a Youth Mental Health First Aider.

Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.