Training course options

We provide the delivery of Scotland's official 2 day accredited Mental Health First Aid Course that is approved by Public Health Scotland and the Scottish Government. 

The SMHFA course takes 12 hours to complete. It can be presented in a range of formats to suit different groups. The course is presented by our qualified SMHFA instructors and quality is continuously monitored by Public Health Scotland.

The course can be presented in the following formats:

• 2 full days 
• 4 half days 
• 6 two-hour sessions.

The following is a brief outline of what is covered on the course:

• guidance on being a Mental Health First Aider 
• attitudes to mental health issues 
• equalities 
• the recovery message 
• the impact of alcohol and drugs on mental health 
• introduction to suicide intervention 
• listening skills 
• understanding depression 
• how to offer first aid to someone experiencing depression 
• understanding anxiety 
• how to offer first aid to someone experiencing anxiety 
• understanding psychosis 
• how to offer first aid to someone experiencing a psychotic episode.

The course does not train people to be mental health workers. It offers basic general information about mental health problems. The knowledge presented and understanding developed in the course helps to remove stigma and fear and to give confidence in approaching a person in distress.

Mental Health First Aid is an initial response to distress and all participants on the course understand that this help is given until other suitable or professional help is found. 

• LivingWorks ASIST is a two-day in-person workshop featuring powerful audiovisuals, discussions, and simulations.
• At a LivingWorks ASIST workshop, you’ll learn how to recognize when someone may be thinking about suicide, and how to provide a skilled intervention and develop a safety plan with the person to connect them to further support.
• You will also consider how personal and community attitudes about suicide affect someone’s openness to seek help and your ability to provide it.
• This workshop will increase your willingness, confidence, and capacity to provide suicide first aid.
• Two knowledgeable, supportive trainers will guide you through the course, ensuring a comfortable and safe learning environment.

LivingWorks safeTALK is a four-hour training that equips people to be more alert to someone thinking of suicide and better able to connect them with further help. Using a simple yet effective model, LivingWorks safeTALK empowers everyone to make a difference. With over 120,000 people attending each year, it’s the world’s fastest-growing suicide prevention skills training course.

We can provide bespoke wellbeing training to support employers and organisations develop and implement effective wellbeing polices.