What is Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training?

Key facts

• Course length: 2 days for the full Mental Health First Aider qualification. Shorter awareness courses (half day to 1 day) also available.
• Awarding body: the MHFA England programme is the most widely held UK qualification, regulated through Ofqual-recognised awarding bodies at RQF Level 2 / 3 Awards.
• Validity: certificate is valid for 3 years. Refresher recommended at that point.
• Who needs it: employer-designated mental health first aiders. Construction-sector workforces are at elevated risk and MHFA is increasingly expected in PQQ submissions.
• The role is not therapy. A Mental Health First Aider listens, supports and signposts. They do not diagnose or treat.
• Mental health is covered as a workplace risk under the same Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 framework as physical risk.

Why mental health training matters on a construction site

The construction sector has consistently reported higher rates of work-related mental ill-health than the wider UK workforce. Suicide rates in construction trades are among the highest of any sector, a pattern repeatedly highlighted by HSE and by industry charities such as Mates in Mind. The drivers include long hours, transient working, mobile working, pay and contract uncertainty, physical injury risk, and the longstanding cultural reluctance to discuss mental health on a building site. Employer-side Mental Health First Aid training is one of the most direct interventions available, and one of the most cost-effective.

What a Mental Health First Aider actually does

The MHFA role is a trained first responder for mental health concerns. Specifically:

• Spot. Recognise the early signs of common mental health conditions (depression, anxiety, substance misuse, suicidal thinking).
• Support. Hold a non-judgmental conversation using the ALGEE action plan: Approach, Listen, Give support, Encourage professional help, Encourage other support.
• Signpost. Direct the person to professional help (GP, EAP, NHS talking therapies, crisis services, Samaritans).
• Maintain self-care. The role can be heavy. MHFA training includes managing the first aider’s own wellbeing.

The MHFA is not a counsellor. They do not diagnose, treat or take ongoing case responsibility. They are the bridge between someone in difficulty and the professional support that person actually needs.

The 2-day MHFA course

The full 2-day MHFA England course covers: mental health and stigma, the ALGEE action plan, depression and suicidal thinking, anxiety disorders, psychosis, eating disorders, self-harm, substance use, the role boundaries of a Mental Health First Aider, and the resources available for ongoing support. Assessment is continuous throughout the course rather than a final exam. Pass and the candidate is certified for 3 years. Delivered classroom-based at our centre or on-site for employer groups. The Mental Health Awareness Course page is here.

Mental Health Awareness: the 1-day option

Where employers want broader workforce coverage rather than just designated first aiders, the 1-day Mental Health Awareness course is the typical step. It covers the same conditions and the same supportive-conversation framework but with less depth and shorter practical exercises. The 1-day course suits managers, supervisors, HR staff and the wider workforce. It does not certify the candidate as a Mental Health First Aider but does build the workforce-wide literacy that makes MHFA programmes work.

How many Mental Health First Aiders does a workplace need?

There is no legal ratio. MHFA England recommends 1 first aider per 50–100 employees as a baseline, with higher ratios for workplaces with elevated risk profiles. Construction sites typically sit at the higher-risk end of that range. A practical baseline: 1 trained MHFA per 25–50 site-based staff, with at least 2 on any working day to allow for absence and to give workers a choice of who to approach. Combine with a 1-day Mental Health Awareness course for line managers and the wider workforce.

Refresher cycle and certificate renewal

The MHFA certificate is valid for 3 years. The 3-year refresher recommendation matches the cycle on physical first aid certificates and is the construction-sector norm. The refresher is a half-day to 1-day course covering syllabus updates, case-study practice and the first aider’s own self-care. Most main contractors will look for current MHFA certificates dated within the last 3 years on submitted CVs at PQQ stage.

Where MHFA fits in the wider H&S programme

Mental health sits alongside physical first aid and the wider H&S awareness programme. A workplace running First Aid at Work on a 3-year cycle should run MHFA on the same cycle and report on it the same way. Some employers combine the two cohorts (physical first aiders also become MHFA trained), which keeps the on-shift cover predictable. Others keep them separate to spread the responsibility across more people.

Related questions

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Quick answers to related questions

Is Mental Health First Aid a legal requirement?

Not in those specific terms. Employers are required to manage workplace risks (including psychosocial risks) under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. MHFA training is one of the most widely accepted ways of meeting that duty in construction.

How long is the MHFA certificate valid?

3 years. The refresher cycle matches physical first aid. Most main contractors expect MHFA certificates on submitted CVs to be dated within the last 3 years.

Should a Mental Health First Aider also be a physical First Aider?

Not required. Some employers combine the cohorts to keep on-shift cover predictable; others keep them separate to spread responsibility. Both approaches are defensible.

Last updated: 2026-05-21. Reviewed by the MPTT health and safety training team, IOSH- and NEBOSH-accredited instructors.