Mental Health First Aid: Guide to Steps and Ireland Training

Most people know how to call 999 for a physical emergency, but when someone is in psychological distress, many of us freeze — unsure what to say, afraid of making things worse. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training fixes that gap, giving ordinary people a structured way to act before a crisis deepens.

Core Steps: 5 · Typical Course Length: 12 hours · Modules per Course: 4 · Training Days Option: 2 days · Focus Areas: Recognition and support

What is mental health first aid?

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) trains ordinary people to provide initial support to someone experiencing a mental health crisis — before professional help arrives. Developed in 2001 by Betty Kitchener and Anthony Jorm in Australia, the programme spread globally and is now delivered under licence by Mental Health First Aid Ireland, operated by St John of God University Hospital, which is the sole authorised provider for the Republic of Ireland (Mental Health First Aid Ireland (official licensing body)).

Definition and purpose

Unlike physical first aid, which deals with injuries, MHFA focuses on psychological distress. The goal is not to replace mental health professionals but to be the first line of support — someone who can recognise warning signs, start a supportive conversation, and guide the person towards appropriate care (Mental Health First Aid Ireland (official provider)).

MHFA training covers common mental health difficulties including anxiety, depression, psychosis, and substance use problems. Participants learn to identify signs, approach distressed individuals, apply communication frameworks, and connect them to professional or community supports (Mental Health First Aid Ireland (official provider)).

Key principles

The programme emphasises non-judgmental listening and reassurance. You do not need a clinical background — just willingness to learn and a commitment to being present for someone in need. Anyone aged 18 or older can attend (Mental Health First Aid Ireland (official provider)).

What are the 5 steps of mental health first aid?

MHFA uses the ALGEE framework — a 5-step action plan taught consistently across all course types. Each step builds on the last to guide you from initial contact through to follow-up (Mental Health First Aid Ireland (official provider)).

• A — Approach: Assess the risk of suicide or harm. Before you can help, you need to understand whether the person is in immediate danger.
• L — Listen: Listen non-judgmentally. Give the person space to talk. Your job is to hear, not to fix or advise.
• G — Give reassurance: Give reassurance and information. Normalise their experience. Let them know they are not alone and that help exists.
• E — Encourage professional help: Encourage appropriate professional help. Guide them towards a GP, psychologist, crisis line, or community service.
• E — Encourage self-help: Encourage self-help strategies. This might include exercise, routines, breathing techniques, or connecting with support groups.

Step 1: Approach

Approaching someone in distress is often the hardest part. ALGEE trains you to watch for warning signs and, where appropriate, initiate contact. You learn how to ask sensitive questions calmly and how to respect someone’s boundaries while expressing concern (Mental Health First Aid Ireland (official provider)).

Step 2: Assess

Listening non-judgmentally is central to MHFA. This means not dismissing their feelings, not minimising their experience, and not rushing to solutions. Active listening — reflecting back what you hear — helps the person feel heard and reduces isolation (Mental Health First Aid Ireland (official provider)).

Step 3: Assist

Giving reassurance means offering emotional support and practical information. You do not diagnose — you reassure them that recovery is possible and that they deserve help (Mental Health First Aid Ireland (official provider)).

Step 4: Encourage

Encouraging professional help means connecting the person to a GP, psychiatrist, counsellor, or crisis service. In Ireland, options include your GP, the Samaritans (116 123), or Pieta House (Mental Health First Aid Ireland (official provider)).

Step 5: Follow-up

Encouraging self-help strategies and following up matters. Check in on the person — a text, a call, a walk together. This continued presence reduces the risk of relapse and reinforces that they are not a burden (Mental Health First Aid Ireland (official provider)).

The standard course runs over two full days — either in-person or via virtual classroom — and covers all five steps with practical role-play exercises (Mental Health First Aid Ireland (official provider)).

What are the 5 C’s of mental health?

The “5 C’s” framework appears in some mental health educational resources as an alternative way to structure supportive conversations, but the term is not used by Mental Health First Aid International or MHFA Ireland. Content referencing the 5 C’s typically derives from secondary wellness sources rather than the official MHFA curriculum. For a structured, evidence-based approach, the ALGEE framework described above remains the standard taught across Ireland.

If you encounter “5 C’s” references in online articles, verify whether the source is a licensed MHFA provider. Mental Health First Aid Ireland’s curriculum is copyrighted and delivered only through accredited instructors — any deviation from ALGEE should be treated with caution (Mental Health First Aid Ireland (official provider)).

What is Mental Health First Aid training in Ireland?

In Ireland, all certified MHFA training is delivered by Mental Health First Aid Ireland, operated by the St John of God University Hospital. It is the sole body licensed by Mental Health First Aid International to deliver the programme in the Republic of Ireland — no other provider is authorised to use the MHFA name or certify participants (Mental Health First Aid Ireland (official licensing body)).

Official providers

MHFA Ireland offers four course types:

• Adult MHFA: The standard course for anyone working with adults. Covers recognition, initial response, and signposting.
• Youth MHFA: Designed for adults who work with or care for young people aged 12–18. Adapted language and scenarios for adolescent mental health (Mental Health First Aid Ireland (official provider))
• Workplace MHFA: Tailored for managers, HR teams, and occupational health staff. Covers legal obligations, return-to-work conversations, and resource identification (MHFA Ireland Courses & Training (official provider)).
• Adult Refresher: For those who have already completed the full course and want to update their skills.

Course formats

Standard courses run over two full days (12 hours total across four modules). Attendance both days is required for certification. Delivery is available in-person or via virtual classroom — participants choose the format that suits them (Mental Health First Aid Ireland (official provider)).

MHFA International also specifies that globally, formats include a one-day in-person intensive and a blended option (two hours online plus a half-day workshop), with costs varying by instructor and location (Mental Health First Aid International (global licensing body)).

Regional variations exist. EHS International, based in Cork and Dublin, offers licensed MHFA courses including one-day refreshers and online options alongside classroom delivery (EHS International (accredited regional provider)). First Fortnight delivers Adult MHFA via Zoom with accredited instructors, emphasising interactivity and peer discussion (First Fortnight (accredited online provider)).

Where to find free or HSE Mental Health First Aid courses in Ireland?

Some MHFA programmes in Ireland receive HSE funding, but there is no publicly available list itemising exactly which courses are subsidised or for whom. The HSE’s own mental health resources — free self-help videos on stress, anxiety, and low mood — are distinct from formal MHFA training (Health Service Executive (government health body)).

Free options

Garda personnel have a dedicated MHFA pathway. Under An Garda Síochána’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021–2025, the force launched its first MHFA instructor course on 21 November 2023. Sixteen applicants were selected for a 5-day intensive training, earning provisional instructor status. To become fully accredited, each provisional instructor must co-deliver two standard 2-day courses to 15–20 participants each (An Garda Síochána KOPS (official police communications)).

The strategy commits to training all personnel in MHFA. Updates continue into 2025 with an ongoing rollout and review phase after the 2023 pilot (An Garda Síochána KOPS (2025 updates)).

For non-Garda citizens, HSE funding may apply to community-based courses in certain areas, but availability varies. The HSE’s Your Mental Health website lists various training programmes administered through the National Youth Council of Ireland and other partners (National Youth Council of Ireland (HSE training listings)).

HSE programmes

While the HSE funds some MHFA delivery, the actual training is always delivered by MHFA Ireland instructors to maintain quality standards. The HSE separately provides free digital resources: six mental health self-help videos covering stress, anxiety, low mood, and related topics. These are distinct from the 12-hour MHFA course and do not lead to certification (Health Service Executive (government health body)).

The HSE also links to external services such as Helplink.ie and MyMind for counselling support (EHS International (referencing HSE resources)).

Aware, a separate organisation, offers courses on depression, anxiety, and bipolar — also distinct from MHFA (Health Service Executive (government health body)).

Instructor training

If you want to teach MHFA yourself, you must apply through MHFA Ireland. The pathway involves completing the standard Adult MHFA course, then applying for instructor training. Instructor candidates are vetted for their suitability to deliver mental health education. Pricing for instructor courses is set by MHFA Ireland and is not publicly itemised on their website — interested applicants should contact them directly for current costs (Mental Health First Aid Ireland (official homepage)).

How to apply the 5 steps

Understanding the ALGEE framework is the first step — applying it under pressure requires practice. MHFA courses use role-play scenarios so participants can rehearse approaching someone in distress before they face a real situation. Here is how the steps apply in practice:

1. Assess the situation quietly. Before approaching, take a moment to observe. Is the person showing signs of agitation, withdrawal, or distress? Are they in immediate danger of harm? This informs how you begin.
2. Initiate contact with warmth. Use open body language. Sit down if they are seated. Introduce yourself simply: “Hi, I noticed you seem upset — is everything okay?”
3. Listen actively. Give them time. Nod, maintain eye contact, and resist the urge to jump in with solutions. Reflect back what you hear: “It sounds like you have been carrying a lot lately.”
4. Normalise and reassure. “What you’re feeling makes sense given what you’ve been through. You are not alone.” Provide practical information about available supports.
5. Connect them to professional help. “Have you spoken to your GP about this? There are people who can help — would you like me to look up some contacts with you now?”
6. Follow up. Send a text the next day. “Hey, just checking in. How are you doing?” A single check-in can make a significant difference.

Workplace settings add complexity. Managers using MHFA skills must balance employee wellbeing with confidentiality obligations and return-to-work protocols. The Workplace MHFA course specifically addresses these scenarios (MHFA Ireland Courses & Training (official provider)).

The pattern is consistent: you do not need clinical training. You need curiosity, compassion, and the willingness to stay — which is something most people can learn in two days.

Mental Health First Aid Ireland, operated by St John of God University Hospital, is the only organisation licensed by Mental Health First Aid International to deliver Mental Health First Aid training in the Republic of Ireland.

— Mental Health First Aid Ireland (official provider)

An Garda Síochána’s Mental Health First Aid Programme formally commenced this week as the inaugural Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor course for An Garda Síochána MHFA Training Facilitators got underway on 21 November 2023.

— An Garda Síochána KOPS (official police communications)

For employers, community groups, and individuals in Ireland, the path forward is straightforward: visit mhfaireland.ie to find an upcoming course. For public sector staff or organisations seeking group rates, contact the HSE’s training partnerships or directly coordinate through MHFA Ireland.

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MHFA Ireland delivers HSE-funded training, while free UK online courses equip individuals with skills to spot and support mental health crises effectively.

Frequently asked questions