Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid is a nationally certificated course which is for everyone. Participants do not need any qualifications, previous knowledge or experience to undertake this course and could include managers, volunteers and frontline staff.

About this course

SMHFA is a 12 hour course which Changes is delivering over two days. It provides an understanding of a range of mental health issues and how these affect people. It will assist participants to recognise when someone might have a problem and how to provide immediate help. It has an emphasis on suicide prevention.

What you will learn

Mental health problems are much more common than most people think, learn how to:

• Recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health problems

• Learn skills to help you make a difference in a mental health crisis

• You could save a life by learning basic suicide intervention skills

• Provide initial help and signpost people to appropriate professional help

• Earn what helps promote wellbeing and recovery

• The knowledge and information is applicable to any setting.

Topics include: attitudes to mental health, recovery, listening skills, depression, suicide, anxiety, psychosis, self-harm, alcohol and drugs, how and where to get help, and looking after our own wellbeing.

Certification

Delegates need to attend both days of the same course to be certified. To receive your certificate, you must have attended part one of this course at the same venue from 9.30am to 4.30pm on 19th November 2025.

Booking

There are 16 spaces on each course and places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. To book your place, please email Brian Glass at Changes using the button below.