Mental health first aid means recognising when someone may be struggling, listening without judgement and helping them find appropriate support. At work, a trained mental health first aider can be an approachable first point of contact for a colleague who wants to talk.
The role has clear limits: it does not qualify someone to diagnose a condition, provide counselling or replace professional healthcare. For employers, training works alongside good management, action on work-related stress and access to support.
If you are choosing training, our Level 3 Workplace Mental Health First Aid course is the option in our range for people taking on this role. You can also compare all three mental health courses.
What does a mental health first aider do?
The starting point is a supportive conversation. A colleague might ask to speak, or you might notice a change and offer time to talk privately. A change in someone’s behaviour is a reason to check in, not a diagnosis.
- Listen: give the person room to explain what they are experiencing without rushing to solve it.
- Offer initial support: respond respectfully and work within your training and workplace arrangements.
- Help them find support: discuss appropriate options, such as their GP, occupational health or an employee assistance programme.
- Recognise when to escalate: know how to get urgent help and follow the agreed procedure when safety is at risk.
Respect privacy and explain the limits of confidentiality. Do not promise to keep everything secret if help may be needed to protect someone’s safety. Acas advises being clear about who information needs to be shared with and why. [1]
Where the role stops
A mental health first aider does not prescribe treatment, make a clinical assessment or become responsible for another person’s recovery. Decisions about workload, adjustments, absence and working conditions remain with the appropriate managers and support professionals.
Agree when you are available and how you can get support yourself. The role should be manageable alongside your job; it should not create an expectation that you are always on call.
Is mental health first aid a legal requirement?
There is no blanket requirement for every employer to appoint someone with the title “mental health first aider”. In Great Britain, HSE says employers should consider mental health in their first-aid needs assessment and decide what support and further training are appropriate. [2]
Employers also have a legal duty to assess work-related stress risks and act on them. Sending staff on a course does not fulfil that duty on its own. For example, a listening service cannot resolve excessive workloads or bullying without management action. [3]
Northern Ireland has separate first-aid regulations. HSENI also bases workplace provision on a needs assessment and has adopted HSE’s first-aid guidance. [4]
Which mental health course should you choose?
Start with what the learner will be expected to do afterwards. General awareness for a team is different from preparing named people to offer mental health first aid.
| Course | Best suited to | Duration and age |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1: Introduction to Mental Health in the Workplace | Employees who want an introduction to mental health, stress, respectful language and self-care. | 3 hours; ages 16+ |
| Level 2: Understanding Mental Health in the Workplace | People who want a fuller understanding of mental health and skills for initial support and signposting. | 1 day; ages 16+ |
| Level 3: Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace | Nominated employees, managers and HR colleagues preparing for a workplace mental health first-aider role. | 2 days; ages 18+ |
You do not have to complete Levels 1 and 2 before Level 3. The qualifications serve different purposes; they are not a compulsory sequence. Check the linked course pages for current dates, prices and delivery options. [5]
What our Level 3 course involves
Skills Training Group teaches the course live online over two days, with up to eight learners. It includes 14 guided learning hours and an invigilated multiple-choice assessment. Materials, assessment and the certificate are included in the advertised course price.
Successful learners achieve the Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace (RQF), qualification number 603/5026/X. The qualification is valid for three years. You must complete the training and pass the assessment; attendance alone is not enough. [5]
The learning covers mental health conditions, supportive conversations, an action plan, workplace responsibilities and your own wellbeing. These are skills for initial support and signposting. This adult workplace course is not a specialist youth mental health or clinical qualification.
Individuals can book a place. Employers arranging several places can contact our team to discuss dates, learner needs and payment by invoice or purchase order.
Are all mental health first aid courses the same?
No. Check the exact course, awarding organisation, assessment and support included before booking. Skills Training Group’s course leads to the Qualsafe award described above.
MHFA England offers a separate training programme. Its ALGEE® framework, MHFAider® branding and associated app and membership benefits belong to that programme; they should not be assumed to come with every mental health first aid course. [6]
If an employer has specified a particular provider or qualification, check their requirement before paying. “Mental health first aid” in a course title does not establish that two courses have identical outcomes.
Putting mental health first aid into practice at work
A certificate is the beginning of the arrangement. Before introducing the role, agree how it will work with the people involved. Acas recommends a mental health policy that explains support, confidentiality and managers’ responsibilities. [7]
- Choose willing people. Look for colleagues who can listen respectfully, maintain boundaries and have time for the role.
- Make support accessible. Consider shifts, remote workers and different sites. Explain who people can approach and what happens when that person is away.
- Agree the next steps. Keep an up-to-date list of internal support and appropriate local services, with a clear process for urgent situations.
- Protect privacy. Set out what information may need to be shared, with whom and how it will be handled.
- Review the arrangement. Check whether people know how to access support, whether first aiders have enough time and whether workplace concerns are being acted on.
Training should form part of a wider approach that includes prevention and support. Avoid judging success simply by how many certificates have been issued.
Questions about mental health first aid
Can anyone train as a mental health first aider?
Our Level 3 course is open to people aged 18 or over, with no requirement for healthcare experience or a lower-level mental health qualification. You need to take part in the learning and assessment. Tell us about any access or learning needs before booking.
Can I qualify online?
Yes. Our Level 3 course combines live teaching with an invigilated assessment. You attend scheduled sessions with an instructor; it is not a self-paced awareness video. Prepare a suitable device, camera, microphone, reliable internet and a private space.
How many mental health first aiders should a business have?
There is no single number that suits every business. Decide what is appropriate through your needs assessment and how your workforce operates. Think about access across sites and shifts, absence cover and the other support available. [2]
Does this replace Emergency First Aid at Work training?
No. Mental health first aid and physical first aid cover different responsibilities. Use your workplace needs assessment to decide what you need. Our first aid course guide explains the physical first-aid options.
Can the learning help outside work?
Listening with care and knowing how to find support can also be useful with friends and family. The same boundaries apply. Completing a workplace course does not qualify you to diagnose or treat someone.
How often do I need to renew?
The Qualsafe Level 3 award is valid for three years. Plan to requalify before the certificate expires and ask us which requalification options are available. Keep your workplace contacts and support arrangements current between courses. [5]
What if the course topics feel difficult?
Mental health training includes sensitive subjects. Contact us before booking if you want to discuss the content, your learning needs or taking part.
Find the right training
For the workplace first-aider role, view our Level 3 Mental Health First Aid course and dates. For broader team awareness, compare our mental health courses or ask our course team for help choosing.
Sources
Source check: 23 October 2026. Qualification details use Qualsafe’s June and July 2026 specifications. The HSE and Acas guidance linked below remains relevant even where its publication date is earlier.
- Acas: Talking about mental health — supportive conversations, confidentiality and obtaining help.
- HSE: Are you an employer? — first-aid needs assessment and the section on mental ill health.
- HSE: Work-related stress and how to manage it — employers’ duties to assess and act on stress risks.
- HSENI: First aid at work — the Northern Ireland framework and needs assessment.
- Qualsafe qualification specifications: Level 1, V5, June 2026 (PDF); Level 2, V8, July 2026 (PDF); Level 3, V11, July 2026 (PDF). These establish qualification scope, entry requirements, duration, assessment and renewal.
- MHFA England: Mental Health First Aid — its own course, framework and included support.
- Acas: Having a mental health policy — support arrangements, responsibilities and policy review.
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