Friday, 27 March 2026

📘 MODULE 2 🧠 Mental Health First Aid – Skills and Understanding

 

📄 VERSION 1: Easy Read Booklet (Full Text)


🎯 Learning Goals

By the end of this module, you will:

  • Understand the 4 main aims of MHFA
  • Understand what happens on a MHFA course
  • Learn how to support someone
  • Learn about the 5 C’s of mental health

🎯 The 4 Main Aims of Mental Health First Aid

MHFA has four main aims:


1️⃣ Recognise signs and symptoms

👉 Notice when someone may have a mental health problem.

Examples:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Confusion
  • Changes in behaviour

2️⃣ Use an action plan

👉 Use a step-by-step plan (ALGEE) to help someone.

  • Stay calm
  • Listen
  • Support
  • Guide to help

3️⃣ Understand barriers to help

👉 Some people do not ask for help because:

  • They feel embarrassed
  • They feel ashamed
  • They do not know where to go
  • They are afraid

👉 MHFA helps reduce these barriers.


4️⃣ Support in crisis

👉 Know how to respond in an emergency:

  • Suicide risk
  • Self-harm
  • Danger to others

👉 Always take action and get help.


🧠 What happens on a MHFA course?

On a course, you will learn:

  • 👀 How to recognise mental health problems
  • 👂 How to listen properly
  • 🛡️ How to keep someone safe (safeguarding)
  • 🚨 How to handle a crisis
  • 📞 How to signpost to help
  • 💙 How to look after your own wellbeing

🌟 The 5 C’s of Mental Health

The 5 C’s help us stay mentally healthy:


🤝 Connection

  • Build good relationships
  • Talk to friends and family
  • Feel less alone

💙 Compassion

  • Be kind to yourself
  • Be kind to others
  • Reduce self-criticism

🧩 Coping

  • Manage stress
  • Use healthy strategies
  • Avoid harmful habits

🌍 Community

  • Feel part of a group
  • Have support
  • Share experiences

🛡️ Care

  • Look after yourself
  • Eat, sleep, and rest
  • Ask for help when needed

💡 Key Message

👉 Mental health first aid helps people feel safe, supported, and understood.


✏️ Activity

Think about:

  • How do you stay calm when stressed?
  • Who supports you?
  • What helps your mental health?

❓ Quick Check

  1. What are the 4 aims of MHFA?
  2. Name one reason people may not ask for help
  3. What does “Connection” mean?

✅ Answers

  1. Recognise, Use action plan, Understand barriers, Crisis support
  2. Embarrassment or fear
  3. Building relationships


📊 VERSION 2: PowerPoint Slides


🟦 Slide 1: Title

Module 2: Mental Health First Aid Skills


🟦 Slide 2: 4 Aims of MHFA

  • Recognise signs
  • Use an action plan
  • Understand barriers
  • Support in crisis

🟦 Slide 3: Recognising Signs

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Behaviour changes

🟦 Slide 4: Action Plan

  • Use ALGEE
  • Stay calm
  • Listen
  • Support

🟦 Slide 5: Barriers to Help

  • Shame
  • Fear
  • Lack of knowledge

🟦 Slide 6: Crisis Support

  • Suicide risk
  • Self-harm
  • Get help immediately

🟦 Slide 7: MHFA Course Covers

  • Listening
  • Safeguarding
  • Crisis support
  • Signposting

🟦 Slide 8: The 5 C’s

  • Connection
  • Compassion
  • Coping
  • Community
  • Care

🟦 Slide 9: Key Message

  • Mental health matters
  • Support helps
  • Everyone can learn


🧩 VERSION 3: Activity Sheet


✏️ Activity 1: Match the words

Match:

  • Connection → ( ) Relationships
  • Compassion → ( ) Kindness
  • Coping → ( ) Stress management
  • Care → ( ) Self-care
  • Community → ( ) Belonging

✏️ Activity 2: Scenario

Someone says:

“I feel overwhelmed and alone.”

  • What would you do?
  • What would you say?

✏️ Activity 3: Fill in the blanks

  1. MHFA helps people in ______
  2. The 5 C’s include ______ and ______
  3. One barrier is feeling ______


🧠 VERSION 4: Quiz + Answers


❓ Questions

  1. What are the 4 aims of MHFA?
  2. Name one barrier to help-seeking
  3. What does coping mean?
  4. Name 2 of the 5 C’s
  5. What should you do in a crisis?

✅ Answers

  1. Recognise, Action, Barriers, Crisis
  2. Shame or fear
  3. Managing stress
  4. Any two: Connection, Compassion, Coping, Community, Care
  5. Get help immediately


🎓 VERSION 5: Trainer Notes (Teaching Guide)


💡 Teaching Tips

  • Use simple language
  • Give real-life examples
  • Encourage discussion
  • Use role play

🧠 Key Teaching Points

  • MHFA is a support role
  • Listening is very important
  • ALGEE is the core model
  • Crisis situations need urgent action
  • The 5 C’s support wellbeing


🌍 VERSION 6: Key Learning Summary

👉 MHFA teaches:

  • How to recognise problems
  • How to support someone
  • How to respond in a crisis

👉 The 4 aims:

  • Recognise
  • Action plan
  • Barriers
  • Crisis support

👉 The 5 C’s:

  • Connection
  • Compassion
  • Coping
  • Community
  • Care


💙 FINAL MESSAGE

👉 Everyone can learn MHFA
👉 You can make a difference
👉 Support saves lives


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