Mental Health First Aid Courses

In-person sessions in mental health first aid are to return to Forth Valley, following a temporary pause during the pandemic.

Delivered by NHS Forth Valley’s Health Promotion Service, Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid is aimed at anyone who wants to help someone with mental health problems whether in a professional or personal capacity.

Mental Health First Aid is the help given to someone experiencing a mental health problem before professional help is obtained.

The aims of the course are:  

  • To preserve life
  • To provide initial help
  • To prevent the problem getting worse
  • To promote recovery of good mental health
  • To provide comfort

The course does not train people to be mental health workers or therapists. It offers general information about mental health problems and equips you with the knowledge and understanding to help remove stigma and fear, and to give confidence in approaching anyone in distress. The course will teach participants:

  • How to ask about suicide
  • How to recognise the signs of mental health problems
  • How to provide initial help
  • How to guide a person to appropriate help.

Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid Coursed are delivered free of charge over 2 days (12 hours of learning total). Courses are open to people living or working in Forth Valley. For general SMHFA  enquiries, please visit Scotland’s mental health first aid website or contact Fiona Macfarlane, NHS Forth Valley, Senior Health Promotion Officer fiona.macfarlane@nhs.scot.

Sign up now

If you are interested in attending the course on 18th and 19th August 2022, please complete a registration form.

Alternatively, to be notified of future course dates, please register your interest.