How do I qualify as a Mental Health First Aid Trainer?
The qualifications required to teach accredited mental health first aid awards and become a mental health first aid instructor have changed over the last couple of years. You can no longer teach accredited mental health first aid awards with just a mental health trainer award, as this will not be accepted by any of the UK awarding bodies.
Teaching Qualification
First and foremost if you want to be a trainer you will need to have an entry-level teaching qualification. The PDLSG – Planning and Delivering Learning Sessions to Groups Award or the ETA – Level 3 Award in Education and Training qualification gives the teaching award accepted by all awarding bodies. This course is nationally accredited and by its conclusion will allow the successful candidate to teach any subject they have experience in.
Mental Health First Aid Qualification
You now have a teaching qualification either PDLSG or ETA that proves your competence as a trainer. What next is to match it up with some relevant mental health experience. The easiest way to do this is to obtain a current Mental Health First Aid qualification or equivalent. Holding the teaching qualification and current mental health experience will allow you to teach the following courses:
- Mental Health First Aid (Adult)
- Mental Health Awareness
- Youth Mental Health First Aid
Insurance
Trainers will require public liability insurance to gain approval from awarding bodies and to protect them in case of claims. Professional indemnity insurance is also advised. Both of these insurances are around £120 to £140 per year.
Equipment
Mental health first aid training requires specific materials:
- Mental Health First Aid PowerPoint presentations
- Workbooks and handouts for participants
- Resource cards and reference materials
Mental Health First Aid Trainer Courses with Teaching Award
If you do not already have a teaching award, Abertay International Training offers comprehensive Mental Health First Aid Trainer courses that include the PDLSG teaching award. Our courses provide everything you need in one package.