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Training & capability

Mental Health First Aid

Explore nine MHFA England courses with IAP, from adult and youth Mental Health First Aid to Champion, awareness, manager skills and refreshers, plus Australian MHFA enquiries.

  • Open courses
  • Private / in-house
  • Organisational programme support
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What it is

A recognised, structured way to respond to mental ill health at work

Mental Health First Aid teaches people how to notice, start a conversation, listen without fixing, and signpost — with a clear framework and clear limits. It doesn't turn anyone into a therapist, and it isn't a substitute for professional support or for fixing the working conditions that make people unwell.

It gives people a structured way to offer initial support and help someone find appropriate professional help.

Learning in Lambeth

MHFA at Art4Space, Stockwell

A course group standing together with certificates in the Art4Space courtyard, beside the turquoise studio
Together in the Art4Space courtyard · IAP / Art4Space

We run open Mental Health First Aid courses with Art4Space in Stockwell. A creative community space, shared learning and a chance to build confidence in supporting others.

See the partnership story, photographs and the 2027 course options.

Explore our Art4Space partnership

MHFA England · United Kingdom

Nine courses, different starting points

From first aid skills to awareness and manager development, choose the learning that fits your people. We deliver these courses through our IAP associate network.

MHFAider training for managers

MHFA for Managers

Combine comprehensive Mental Health First Aid training with practical support for your role as a people manager.

Learn more about MHFA for Managers

MHFA Champion training

Adult MHFA Champion (One Day)

A one-day course that builds understanding of common mental health issues and confidence to recognise concerns, offer initial support and signpost colleagues towards help.

Learn more about Adult MHFA Champion (One Day)

Adult MHFA, Youth MHFA and MHFA for Managers are full first-aider training programmes. MHFA Champion, awareness and shorter manager courses award attendance certificates, not MHFAider certification. Refreshers are for people who have already completed the relevant MHFA training.

Enquire about private / corporate trainingSee 2027 open course dates

United Kingdom

MHFA England open courses with Laura Rigden

2027 dates supplied by IAP. Online and in-person courses are grouped separately below. Where an individual booking page is not yet available, the link opens the official instructor listing; contact the IAP team if your date is not shown there.

Online courses

Live sessions held over video call. Full MHFA courses run across four half-days; refreshers run as a single session. See each listing for dates and times.

Online

Mental Health First Aid

Dates
7, 9, 14 and 16 September 2027
Time
9am–1pm each session (UK time)
Format
Four sessions
Location
Online

This link opens the official instructor listing, not a booking page for this date. If your course is not shown, contact the It's a Playground team on info@itsaplayground.org or support@itsaplayground.org.

Request a course placeMHFA England instructor listing (opens in a new tab)

Online

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Dates
8, 10, 15 and 17 November 2027
Time
9am–1pm each session (UK time)
Format
Four sessions
Location
Online

This link opens the official instructor listing, not a booking page for this date. If your course is not shown, contact the It's a Playground team on info@itsaplayground.org or support@itsaplayground.org.

Request a course placeMHFA England instructor listing (opens in a new tab)

Online

Mental Health First Aid Refresher

Dates
23 March 2027
Time
9am–1:30pm (UK time)
Format
One refresher session
Location
Online

This link opens the official instructor listing, not a booking page for this date. If your course is not shown, contact the It's a Playground team on info@itsaplayground.org or support@itsaplayground.org.

Request a course placeMHFA England instructor listing (opens in a new tab)

Online

Mental Health First Aid Refresher

Dates
30 November 2027
Time
9am–1:30pm (UK time)
Format
One refresher session
Location
Online

This link opens the official instructor listing, not a booking page for this date. If your course is not shown, contact the It's a Playground team on info@itsaplayground.org or support@itsaplayground.org.

Request a course placeMHFA England instructor listing (opens in a new tab)

Online

Youth Mental Health First Aid Refresher

Dates
18 May 2027
Time
9am–1:30pm (UK time)
Format
One refresher session
Location
Online

This link opens the official instructor listing, not a booking page for this date. If your course is not shown, contact the It's a Playground team on info@itsaplayground.org or support@itsaplayground.org.

Request a course placeMHFA England instructor listing (opens in a new tab)

Online

Youth Mental Health First Aid Refresher

Dates
7 December 2027
Time
9am–1:30pm (UK time)
Format
One refresher session
Location
Online

This link opens the official instructor listing, not a booking page for this date. If your course is not shown, contact the It's a Playground team on info@itsaplayground.org or support@itsaplayground.org.

Request a course placeMHFA England instructor listing (opens in a new tab)

In-person courses at Art4Space, London

Held at Art4Space’s community arts studios in Stockwell, Lambeth.

Face-to-face

Mental Health First Aid

Dates
29–30 April 2027
Time
9:30am–5pm each day (UK time)
Format
Two days
Location
Art4Space, 31 Jeffreys Road, Stockwell, London SW4 6QU

This link opens the official instructor listing, not a booking page for this date. If your course is not shown, contact the It's a Playground team on info@itsaplayground.org or support@itsaplayground.org.

Request a course placeMHFA England instructor listing (opens in a new tab)

Face-to-face

Mental Health First Aid

Dates
7–8 October 2027
Time
9:30am–5pm each day (UK time)
Format
Two days
Location
Art4Space, 31 Jeffreys Road, Stockwell, London SW4 6QU

This link opens the official instructor listing, not a booking page for this date. If your course is not shown, contact the It's a Playground team on info@itsaplayground.org or support@itsaplayground.org.

Request a course placeMHFA England instructor listing (opens in a new tab)

Face-to-face

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Dates
23–24 September 2027
Time
9:30am–5pm each day (UK time)
Format
Two days
Location
Art4Space, 31 Jeffreys Road, Stockwell, London SW4 6QU

This link opens the official instructor listing, not a booking page for this date. If your course is not shown, contact the It's a Playground team on info@itsaplayground.org or support@itsaplayground.org.

Request a course placeMHFA England instructor listing (opens in a new tab)

Face-to-face

Mental Health First Aid Refresher

Dates
18 June 2027
Time
9am–1:30pm (UK time)
Format
One refresher session
Location
Art4Space, 31 Jeffreys Road, Stockwell, London SW4 6QU

This link opens the official instructor listing, not a booking page for this date. If your course is not shown, contact the It's a Playground team on info@itsaplayground.org or support@itsaplayground.org.

Request a course placeMHFA England instructor listing (opens in a new tab)
See Laura’s latest courses on MHFA England
Front page of the MHFA Courses 2027 brochure

MHFA Courses 2027 brochure

All of our 2027 open course dates in one document to save or share with your team.

Download the 2027 brochure (PDF)

International

Delivering outside the UK and Australia

MHFA is licensed nationally, so the available course depends on where your people are. For international and mixed-location organisations we'll talk through what's possible, and where an IAP mental health literacy or leadership programme may be a better fit than a national MHFA licence.

Where delivery crosses cultures and languages, we plan that in — including local support pathways and context — rather than exporting a UK course unchanged.

Why train with IAP

MHFA learning, with IAP support around it

Your course brings together the benefits of the official MHFA programme and the practical learning, connection and support IAP adds around it.

From the official programme

Your programme benefits

Your course includes the learner materials, certificate and any ongoing support provided by the national MHFA body for that programme.

We’ll confirm exactly what your certification includes when you book, straight from the provider.

Added by IAP

Beyond the certificate

  • Ongoing MHFAider Connect / Reflect / Grow sessions
  • Scenario practice, shared challenges and successes
  • ALGEE refresh, boundaries and action planning
  • Resource sharing between cohorts
  • Access to IAP Wellbeing Calendar opportunities
  • Facilitators who bring lived experience alongside the evidence

Organisational programme

Beyond the certificate: making the role work

Training is a starting point. MHFAiders also need clear roles, boundaries and ongoing support.

  1. 01

    Selection & role clarity

    Who should be an MHFAider, how many you need, and what the role is — and is not — in your organisation.

  2. 02

    Launch & communications

    How people find their MHFAiders, how the role is introduced, and how leaders talk about it.

  3. 03

    Boundaries & escalation

    Clear routes for risk, confidentiality expectations, and what happens when something is beyond the role.

  4. 04

    Connect · Reflect · Grow

    Ongoing MHFAider sessions: resource sharing, scenario practice, challenges and successes, ALGEE refresh, boundaries and action planning.

  5. 05

    Refreshers & development

    Keeping skills current, plus wider capability building such as suicide prevention awareness.

  6. 06

    Implementation & review

    Reviewing how the network is working in practice and adjusting it — rather than assuming a course did the job.

Capacity

A team, not a single trainer

IAP works with a wider associate network, so we can collectively deliver relevant courses across the UK and digitally. Each member of our network brings their own qualifications, experience and perspective — we thoughtfully match the right facilitator to your sector and context.

Next step

Register interest or enquire about a private course

MHFA enquiry

Tell us what you need and where you're based. We'll come back with options — including whether a complimentary consultation would help first.

Your name and email are required. Everything else is optional. Enquiries are welcome from individuals, teams, organisations and communities.

Please share any information that would help us support you, your team or organisation, including adjustments or needs. You don't need to share a diagnosis or medical history.

Your booking request is stored securely with IAP; your contact details and booking context are also saved in our existing Wix contact system. Email updates are optional and existing opt-outs are preserved. Privacy & cookies.

  • Register interest in future open course dates
  • Book a private cohort for your organisation or community
  • Talk about an organisation-wide MHFAider programme
  • Add ongoing Connect / Reflect / Grow support to an existing network

Not sure MHFA is the right starting point? That's a completely normal place to be — a consultation costs nothing and often changes the plan.

From the room

What MHFA participants said

Feedback on MHFA training, published on Art4Space’s course page with the original attributions.

“I could not have asked for a better course to further my understanding and help others in Mental Health First Aid. I even implemented mental health first aid just two days after the course and used my knowledge gained from Laura to help my employee.”
GM, Mindset LondonPublished on Art4Space (opens in a new tab)
“Both courses we’ve done with you now have been fantastic. We really believe in supporting our staff and the wider workforce so courses like this are really beneficial to us.”
CEO, Middlesex Football AssociationPublished on Art4Space (opens in a new tab)
“Came into the course thinking it may be a bit wishy washy, but I was so wrong. Laura was engaging and informative. I have found the course has helped me personally as well as enabling me to help in the workplace.”
City PubsPublished on Art4Space (opens in a new tab)
“I will go back and recommend that this gets extended to other sectors within the company.”
Finance Manager, Restaurant AssociatesPublished on Art4Space (opens in a new tab)

Make MHFA part of something bigger

We can help you connect MHFA training with leadership, inclusion, work design and clear support pathways.

Start a conversationThe whole organisation approach