MP Skills has become a member of the Association of Mental Health First Aiders, the first and only membership body in England dedicated to supporting mental health first aiders. This association, launched by Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England, represents a significant step forward a commitment to enhancing mental health support and fostering a culture of wellbeing in the workplace and beyond.

As an active instructor member of MHFA England, MP Skills is dedicated to advancing mental health awareness and support. Inclusion in the Association of Mental Health First Aiders allows MP Skills to offer unparalleled resources and ongoing support to its mental health first aiders, ensuring they are equipped with the latest tools and knowledge to make a lasting impact.

Julie Edwards, MP Skills’ instructor member of MHFA England, said: "I have delivered the new MHFA two-day course that was launched in 2022 in house and to external customers. The big difference in the course now is that it offers ongoing support to the learners, which is extremely important for the learners to support them in their MHFAider role. Training providers that do not have MHFA instructor’s member status do not have this association, so this will set our MHFA status apart from other providers."

MP Skills’ membership provides exclusive access to:

• A comprehensive resource library with toolkits, guidance, animations, and core mental health concepts to support mental health first aiders
• A signposting database through Hub of Hope, connecting us to local and national mental health services for additional support
• Regular reminders for well-being check-ins with individuals that MHFAiders are supporting
• 24/7 text-support services through Shout, offering advice and reassurance on mental health conversations and post-conversation support
• Exclusive webinars to deepen and broaden mental health knowledge via the Online Learning Hub
• Access to the digital MHFA manual. As updates are made this manual is updated for all MHFAiders so they always have the latest version
• A monthly newsletter with updates and exclusive resources to support MHFAiders in their roles.

MP Skills’ participation in the association aligns with the new two-day MHFAider course launched by MHFA England in late 2022. This updated course provides ongoing support and reflects the latest guidance and statistics, enhancing the learning experience. Through its membership, MP Skills can deliver this streamlined, high-quality training both online and face to face, simplifying administration and ensuring consistency.

In the coming months, MP Skills will also offer the new Mental Health Awareness course to industry, broadening its training portfolio and providing even more opportunities for individuals to engage with up-to-date, relevant mental health education.

Membership of the Association of Mental Health First Aiders underscores MP Skills' dedication to continuous improvement and excellence in delivering mental health training and support. As a leader in mental health support, MP Skills say they are proud to be part of this pioneering community, working together to transform how we talk about and support mental health.

For more information about MP Skills’ mental health training courses and to learn more about its membership of the Association of Mental Health First Aiders, visit: www.mpskills.co.uk