Mental health first aid is initial support given to someone experiencing a mental health problem or crisis until professional help is received, and the name of a training program that teaches this skill.
Mental health first aid is the initial help offered to a person who is developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of an existing condition, or going through a mental health crisis, until professional help is received or the crisis resolves. The term also refers to a specific training program, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), that teaches non-specialists how to recognize warning signs and respond in a supportive, practical way.
Just as physical first aid does not make someone a doctor, mental health first aid does not make someone a counselor or therapist. The aim is to notice when a coworker may be struggling, start a conversation, offer basic support and connect the person with appropriate help, whether that is an employee assistance program, a doctor, a crisis line or emergency services.
Workplaces are taking a closer look at mental health because psychosocial hazards such as high workload, isolation, shift work, traumatic events and job insecurity can affect wellbeing and safety. Stress, fatigue and distraction can also increase the risk of incidents. Training people to respond is one part of a broader approach to psychological health at work.
The MHFA program was created in Australia in 2001 by Betty Kitchener and Anthony Jorm and has since been adapted in many countries. In the United States, Mental Health First Aid is run by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, which brought the program to the US in 2008 and offers versions for adults, youth, workplaces and specific groups. In England, MHFA England offers courses including a two-day course that trains people as workplace Mental Health First Aiders.
US courses teach a five-step action plan, often remembered by the acronym ALGEE:
US participants who complete the course receive certification from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing that is valid for three years, after which recertification is needed. Courses typically combine self-paced pre-work with instructor-led sessions. Training covers common conditions, warning signs, crisis situations such as suicidal thoughts or panic attacks, and how to respond. It does not qualify anyone to diagnose or treat mental illness.
In the United States, OSHA has no standard requiring mental health first aid training, and no federal rule requires employers to appoint trained mental health first aiders. In Great Britain, mental health first aid is also not a legal requirement. HSE's first aid guidance says that after a first aid needs assessment, an employer may decide it is useful to have people trained to recognize and support someone experiencing a mental health issue, and lists options including mental health first aiders, manager training, occupational health support and employee assistance programs. Employers do have general duties to assess risks to health, which can include work-related stress.
ISO 45003:2021 gives guidance on managing psychosocial risks within an occupational health and safety management system. In Canada, CSA Z1003 is a voluntary national standard for psychological health and safety in the workplace. Both treat training as one control among many, alongside work design, workload, leadership and support.
At a regional trucking company, a dispatcher who completed MHFA training notices that a long-haul driver who is usually upbeat has become short-tempered on calls, mentions not sleeping, and says something like "what's the point anymore" during a check-in. The dispatcher arranges a private call once the driver is safely parked, asks directly how he is doing, and listens without rushing to solutions.
When the dispatcher asks about thoughts of self-harm, the driver says he has had dark thoughts but no plan. The dispatcher shares the number for the employee assistance program and the 988 line, offers to help him book an appointment, and with the driver's agreement, works with the operations manager to adjust his route so he can be home for a few days. The dispatcher follows up the next week and also uses the company's peer support debrief after the conversation.
Not under federal OSHA rules in the US, and not under HSE rules in Great Britain. Some employers choose to offer it as part of their health and safety or wellbeing programs.
No. The role is to notice, listen, support and connect the person to professional help. Diagnosis and treatment are for qualified clinicians.
In the US, certification from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is valid for three years. Other national providers set their own refresher periods.
Call emergency services right away and stay with the person if it is safe to do so. Mental health first aid supports, but never replaces, emergency response.
Part of SafetyIQ's EHS glossary: plain-English definitions of workplace health and safety terms.
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