British Judo Partners with Local Minds to Provide Mental Health First Aid Training

British Judo are partnering with mental health charity Birmingham Mind to offer clubs online Mental Health First Aid Training (MHFA).

No matter where you are in the country, you can access this training from a trusted mental health specialist who can help connect you with support services in your local area.

What is Mental Health First Aid?

Mental Health First Aid course empowers MHFAiders® to play a critical role in supporting people’s mental health and creating healthy working environments.

Our course is ideal for anyone who’d like to gain the knowledge and skills to spot the signs of someone experiencing poor mental health, be confident to start a conversation, and signpost them to appropriate support.

MHFAiders® receive three years of certification and are invited to join the Association of Mental Health First Aiders® – England’s first and only membership body for MHFAiders. As well as access to ongoing learning and expert support, members gain the benefits of being part of a national movement for better mental health.

What are the learning outcomes?

As an MHFAider®you’ll be able to:

• Recognise those that may be experiencing poor mental health and provide them with first-level support and early intervention
• Encourage a person to identify and access sources of professional help and other supports
• Practise active listening and empathy
• Have a conversation with improved mental health literacy around language and stigma
• Discuss the MHFAider role in depth, including boundaries and confidentiality
• Practise self-care
• Know how to use the MHFAider Support App®
• Know how to access a dedicated text service provided by Shout and ongoing learning opportunities with MHFA England

What is the format of the training? 

• Online or face-to-face courses are structured across four flexible sessions. Each session is just under four hours and sessions can be delivered within a two-week period
• Learners will be trained over four live sessions with an MHFA England Instructor Member, covering 14 hours of content in total
• Learning takes place through a mix of instructor-led training, group discussions, individual and group activities
• Each session builds on the previous one, enabling the learner to gain confidence in supporting others with a Mental Health First Aid action plan
• We limit numbers to 16 people per course so that instructors can keep people safe and supported while they learn
• We strive for all of our learning content to be as accessible and inclusive as possible

What are the benefits?

Investing in the MHFA course doesn’t just benefit you. You’re helping to create a healthier, more supportive environment where everyone can thrive.

Better understanding of mental health and less stigma ripples out into communities, with the potential to improve and save lives.

What resources will I have?

Everyone who completes the course gets:

• A copy of the workbook to support their learning throughout the course
• A digital manual to refer to whenever they need it
• A wallet-sized reference card