The Mental Health First Responder course is an intensive two‑day training course designed to equip individuals with the confidence, knowledge and practical skills needed to recognise and respond to signs of mental distress. Through a blend of evidence-informed learning, guided reflection and structured practice, participants develop a clear understanding of the mental health spectrum and how common challenges can present in real‑world situations. The course emphasises early identification, compassionate communication and safe, supportive responses that prioritise wellbeing while reducing stigma.

Across the two days, learners are guided through practical scenarios, response frameworks and supportive strategies that can be applied in workplaces, community settings and daily life. By the end of the course, participants will feel empowered to offer immediate, appropriate support to someone experiencing difficulty, signpost effectively to further help, and contribute to a more open, aware and mentally healthy environment. This training is suitable for anyone looking to take an active role in supporting the mental wellbeing of others. The course is suitable for both small teams and large organisations and can be delivered across different industries and no previous mental health training is required. 

Here’s a few examples of what a crisis could look like:

• Someone who is distraught about an event in their personal lives
• Someone who has just been involved in an incident and is overwhelmed
• Someone who has just lost their temper
• Someone who has been triggered
• Someone who is in unbearable pain

A few key facts

Definition: A Mental Health First Responder is someone who is trained to provide an initial response to someone in crisis or distress. They are trained to identify immediate actions that will support the individual to cope and keep them and those around them safe, this may involve requesting support from agencies or services, signposting an individual to support, or getting support from others in the organisation.

Who the course is for: The Mental Health First Responder course is designed to be suitable for managers, first aiders and employees who would like to know how to support someone in distress. Participants do not need a background in HR, healthcare, or mental health to benefit from this training.

Aim of the course: The Mental Health First Responder course aims to give people a structure to help others in crisis or distress.

How is it different from Mental Health First Aid: Unlike Mental Health First Aid, a Mental Health First Responder’s role is to respond to an emergency situation. They are not expected to spot the early signs of mental health illnesses and provide interventions as a Mental Health First Aider, that is the role of pastoral support systems, such as effective line management.

Outcomes: You will have a member of staff who is certified to provide support to someone who is in crisis or distress, just the same as a first aider is trained to respond to an emergency situation.

Guarantee: This course is covered by our Willingness Guarantee, that means a full refund if someone is not more willing to help in a crisis after the course, click here for more info.

Training: A two-day course (or split over 4 half-day/evening sessions)

Assessment: Trainer and online assessment

Price range: £396-495

Mental Health First Responders are different from Mental Health First Aiders.

They provide a first response to someone in crisis or distress, they do not have responsibility for that person or need to provide ongoing care. 

If someone needs support with coping with the crisis or distress, a Responder provides that support.

If something is serious, a Mental Health First Responder gets help, their role is not to intervene.

Responders do no need to provide interventions or ongoing support.

• People who cannot keep calm in a crisis.
• People who have poor communication skills.
• They should not be people who want to fix things for someone else.
• People who cannot be empathetic.
• They should not be only senior leaders (you need a mix of staff levels from across an organisation).
• They should NOT be ‘wannabe therapists’!

• People who are level headed.
• People who keep calm in a crisis.
• People who can listen.
• People who can show empathy without getting involved.
• People with excellent communicate skills.

Participants who pass the course will receive a Mental Health First Responder Certificate and a digital badge to showcase their qualification on platforms such as LinkedIn or within their organisation. 

Participants will leave the course with practical skills they can immediately apply in real workplace situations. 

This course equips participants with the practical knowledge, confidence, and tools to recognise and respond to mental health crises in the workplace. 

By completing this training, participants will be able to:

If your organisation is looking to better support the mental health and wellbeing of employees, this course provides practical training that equips staff to respond confidently when someone may be experiencing a mental health crisis. 

This training may be right for your organisation if you are: 

• Looking to strengthen workplace mental health support 

• Supporting managers and teams to handle difficult situations 

• Building a more supportive and responsible workplace culture 

• Improving confidence in responding to mental health concerns at work 

• Taking proactive steps to support staff wellbeing 

Remember, these are covered by our 100% money-back Willingness Guarantee.