CWU qualified Mental Health First Aiders Class '24
Workplaces across England are marking MHFAider Day today, Thursday 12 November 2026, the national thank-you to Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAiders®), the trained colleagues who notice when someone is struggling and know how to help.
Now in its second year, the day is run by MHFA England. It has published new toolkits to help organisations say thank you. The workplace toolkit includes a template email from a senior leader, a thank-you card, LinkedIn posts and suggested next steps for continuing to support MHFAiders. Members of the Association of Mental Health First Aiders® can find their own toolkit in the MHFA England Online Learning Hub, and Instructor Members will receive theirs by email.
Background to the day
Every employer is legally required to provide for physical first aid, and MHFA England argues that mental health deserves the same attention. Mental health first aid training is not a legal requirement in the same way, but the organisation says trained MHFAiders make support visible and easy to reach in the workplace.
To back that up, MHFA England has produced Workplace Mental Health First Aid Standards, which set out what good support for MHFAiders looks like. Employers are being asked to pledge their support and become a "Standard Setter", and a business case for doing so is available to download. MHFA England's 2025 MHFAider Insights Survey found that 91% of MHFAiders believe they are challenging stigma around mental health.
What's happening
- Thursday 12 November: MHFAider Day, with a members' webinar from 12pm to 12:30pm and a new resource for clients and Instructor Members, Looking after your MHFAiders.
- Wednesday 18 November: World MHFA Day, themed "Ready when it matters", alongside the release of The MHFAider effect 2026.
How to take part
People can share their MHFAider badge on LinkedIn using #MHFAiderDay, send their story to stories@mhfaengland.org, or thank an MHFAider who has made a difference to them. Organisations can pledge to support the Standards, and MHFAiders can book an MHFA Refresher to keep their skills current and their membership active.
More information: The workplace toolkit and the Standards business case can be downloaded from mhfaengland.org. The Association of Mental Health First Aiders is free to join at aomhfa.org.
The Association of Mental Health First Aiders, say on their website:
Whether you’re an MHFAider or an Instructor Member, when you join the Association of Mental Health First Aiders, you’re part of the largest community of its kind. You’re connecting and collaborating with others who feel proud to be transforming the way we talk about and support people’s mental health.
Why choose us?
- We’re the first and only membership body for Mental Health First Aiders in England
- We’re the only training provider to offer ongoing support to learners
- We’re founded by Mental Health First Aid England, a social enterprise whose training, consultancy, and campaigning is
paving the way for positive mental health in the workplace and beyond - We reinvest our profits into giving quality mental health training to those who need it most
- We are a diverse, equitable, and inclusive space for all
What we offer
We provide our members with exclusive access to a wide range of resources, from training and qualifications to events and research. This includes:
- The MHFAider Support App®. Members have access to features such as a 24/7 text support service, signposting to a national database of health services, and insights that teach critical self-care skills
- Access to the MHFA England Online Learning Hub. This contains resources such as course manuals and MHFAider guides
- First-hand insights. You can watch our Honest Answers film series, where people share their lived experience of mental health conditions
- We’ll invite you to exclusive quarterly webinars to help you carry out your role with confidence, skill, and care
- Monthly newsletters. You’ll be kept up to date with all the latest news
We’re proud that since we were founded in 2007, our Instructor Members have trained over half a million MHFAiders.
Source: Ady Prins / MHFA / AMHFA
