Youth Mental Health First Aid
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Introduction
Supporting the mental health of young people requires a specialized approach that accounts for their unique developmental stages and the specific challenges they face. This internationally recognized Youth Mental Health First Aid course empowers those who work with or care for young people aged 8–18 with the essential skills to spot the early signs of mental health issues and the confidence to provide effective initial support. By attending, you will learn how to navigate sensitive conversations, reduce the stigma surrounding youth mental health, and act as a vital link to professional help, ensuring that the young people in your life feel heard, protected, and supported.
Learning Outcomes
- 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®
- Know how to use the MHFAider Support App®
- Know how to access a dedicated text service provided by Shout and ongoing learning opportunities with MHFA England®
- Learn beyond the course through membership of the Association of Mental Health First Aiders®
Takeaways
- A copy of the workbook to support their learning throughout the course
- A digital manual to refer to whenever they need it
- A wallet-sized reference card with the Youth MHFA action plan (ALGEE®)
- A digital Youth MHFAider certificate valid for three years
Your Course Instructor - Matthew Barnard
Matthew Barnard is an ideal instructor for the Youth Mental Health First Aid course because he bridges the gap between theory and the daily realities of educational environments. With extensive experience working directly in both state and private secondary schools. Matthew understands the specific pressures, from exam stress to social dynamics, that young people face today.
As a qualified psychotherapist and counsellor specifically trained in trauma-informed practice and EMDR, he brings a level of clinical depth that allows him to explain complex mental health issues with clarity and empathy. When you learn from Matthew, you aren't just getting a curriculum; you are gaining insights from a practitioner who spends his week supporting students and staff on the front lines of education, ensuring the training is practical, relatable, and deeply impactful.
The course was fantastic. Excellent resources and activities. The facilitators were incredibly welcoming and supportive. Lots of practical ideas and support. One of the best bits of CPD I’ve done, very applicable to day to day school life.
Qualified Secondary School Teacher, Oxford