Call to prioritise employee mental health

With the cost of mental health related sickness absence at a record high of £53-56 billion per year, staff wellbeing must be at the heart of recovery and progression.  

To support organisations in their mission to protect and establish strong mental health and wellbeing programmes, MHFA England and RSPH have partnered up to offer a new qualification for Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAiders). The RSPH Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid launches today and will support MHFA England’s social purpose to improve the mental health of the nation.   

The RSPH Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid will give MHFAiders the opportunity to embed their learning further, build confidence and reassure them that they have the knowledge, expertise, and commitment to carry out their role. The launch of this new qualification cements a decades long relationship between MHFA England and RSPH. This relationship, the only one of its kind in the workplace mental health and wellbeing space, has been forged on evidence based, robust training.  

Speaking about MHFA England’s new offering, Simon Blake, chief executive of MHFA England says, “It has been a tough few years with Covid 19 and now a cost-of-living crisis which will affect everybody, but some more than others. Thankfully more employers are recognising the role that workplaces can play in promoting positive mental health and ensuring those who need mental health support - in the workplace and beyond - can access it. 

“Over the last 15 years, our MHFA England Instructor Members have worked with over 20,000 workplaces and trained over 600,000 MHFAiders. Time and again we have been asked if there is a qualification to cement our training. So, I am delighted that, in partnership with RSPH, we have developed and launched the RSPH Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid. This qualification, the only one of its kind to be offered by the world’s oldest public health body, builds on our strong heritage of collaboration to provide excellent learning experiences.   

"We know there is more mental health training available than ever before and that can only be a good thing, helping to tackle stigma and offering support to those who need it most. However, it is important that the training that learners seek out is safe, rigorously tested and driven by the latest research. This will ensure people develop a sound understanding of mental health and the stigma surrounding it and ultimately help build a society where everyone’s mental health matters.” 

William Roberts, chief executive at RSPH continues, “We have worked with MHFA England for over 14 years and in that time have seen them forge new pathways towards a society where everyone’s mental health matters. 

“The launch of their new MHFA training in September 2022, with its razor-sharp focus on diversity and inclusion, community and support help ensure MHFA England is a sector leading provider of workplace mental health training and the largest in its field. I am delighted that we are able to deepen our relationship with them and support their commitment to quality as they look to expand their offering to learners.   

“Both RSPH and MHFA England have always maintained that mental health is a public health issue and one that we must tackle together – in workplaces, educational spaces and communities. By launching this qualification, we are united in our determination to continue to break down stigmas, bring mental health discussions out of the shadows and ultimately improve the mental health of the nation.”  

To ensure the RSPH Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid best meets learners’ needs, MHFA England piloted it with over 40 of its National Trainers. Peter Larkham who has been delivering training on behalf of MHFA England for over a decade, said of the pilot and qualification,  

“Having worked with MHFA England for over ten years, I've always been impressed with how they are constantly looking to raise the standard of Mental Health training in the UK. This new RSPH Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid is proof of that. It's comprehensive, inclusive, and once again at the forefront. If you've trained as a MHFAider®, this is a great qualification to receive.” Peter Larkum, award winning MHFA England Instructor and creator of Mentality. 

MHFAiders who have completed MHFA England’s MHFA course are now eligible to take the RSPH Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid. Those who achieve the qualification will be encouraged to take part in MHFA Refresher training every three years to ensure up-to-date learning and knowledge.  

If you would like to find out more about the MHFAider qualification, please visit mhfaengland.org/rsph-level-3-award-in-mental-health-first-aid/