Mental Health First Aid

First aid is the help given to an injured person before appropriate treatment

·         preserve life;

·         prevent deterioration of any injury or illness;

·         promote healing;

·         provide comfort to the ill or injured.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the immediate help given to someone

·         to preserve life where a person may be a danger to themselves or others;

·         to provide help to prevent the mental distress developing into a more serious state;

·         to promote the recovery of good mental health;

·         to provide comfort to a person experiencing mental distress.

MFHA does not teach people to be therapists. However, it does teach people:

·        how to recognise the symptoms of mental distress

·        how to provide initial help

·        how to guide a person towards appropriate help

Mind Cymru, on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government, is aiming to train 75 MHFA Instructors, who will be trained by a team of four National Trainers. A team of three Regional Co-ordinators (covering North, Mid and South Wales) will support the Instructors in finding applicants to attend the two-day Mental Health First Aid  course.

or Claire Foster, Regional Co-ordinator (South) on 01495 757393, c.foster@mind.org.uk

or Gwynfryn Evans, Regional Co-ordinator (North) on 07802 173148, g.evans@mind.org.uk