Launching the first membership body for mental health first aiders

Sarah McIntosh

Managing Director, AOMHFA

Learn about the new Association that can ensure workplace mental health support is fit for today’s landscape with ongoing training and resources.

The creation of the new Association of Mental Health First Aiders® will redefine the landscape of workplace mental health support.

Workplace mental health

The last few years have been hard on everyone. Amidst a global pandemic, economic uncertainty, changes to the ways we work and a cost of living crisis, the need to support everyone’s mental health and wellbeing is greater than ever​. 

Recent statistics paint a stark picture of the mental health challenges facing the country, underscoring the urgent need for effective intervention and support.¹ Suicide rates are rising, and there are 1.9 million people waiting to access mental health services.² The cost of poor mental health to individuals, businesses and state is enormous, with the Centre for Mental Health estimating it cost £110 million in 2022.  

For the first time, members will
have exclusive access to a
wide range of resources.

Launching the association

In response, Mental Health First Aid England®, the national authority on mental health first aid, recently unveiled a groundbreaking initiative poised to ignite a new era of action in mental health.

It is England’s first and only membership body for mental health first aiders (MHFAiders®). Through the Association of Mental Health First Aiders (AOMHFA), members will be empowered to transform how we talk about and support mental health in the workplace and beyond. Mental Health First Aid England is the only organisation that offers ongoing support to MHFAiders as part of their training.

Supporting the community more effectively

By creating the largest dedicated community of MHFAiders, we can support members long after they have completed their course. For the first time, members will have exclusive access to a wide range of resources, from ongoing training and qualifications to events and research, supporting them in fulfilling their roles effectively.  

Sarah McIntosh, Managing Director of the AOMHFA says: “Every day, our MHFAiders are having life-changing and lifesaving conversations. We need to support them to keep doing so. The Association is the next stage of empowering a growing community of Mental Health First Aiders to tackle stigma and lead transformative change in our workplaces and beyond.”

“The AOMHFA is a pioneering, human response to the pressing mental health issues we face as a society. Its launch represents a huge step forward in mental health support — one that prioritises prevention, early intervention and support.”