Mental Health First Aid Training - Wednesday 02 December 2026 (HMC, 12 The Point, Market Harborough)

Teaching staff are often concerned about 'getting it wrong' and 'saying the wrong thing' when it comes to supporting pupils with their mental health and wellbeing.   The MHFA Youth One‑Day Course gives them the knowledge, confidence and skills to effectively support young people’s mental wellbeing.

This course is run by an ex Head who has trained in excess of 900 school staff and both he, and how he runs the course, are therefore focused specifically on educating those working in schools. This practical training equips delegates with the knowledge to spot early signs of mental health challenges and the confidence to take supportive, appropriate action.

Delegates will increase their knowledge and understanding of topics such as anxiety, depression, self harm, eating disorders and suicide and the training will ensure an awareness of the MHFA Action Plan which includes knowing how to approach a young person with mental health challenges, assessing and assisting with crisis as well as gaining a greater awareness of appropriate professional help, other supports and learning the skills involved in listening non-judgementally.

Why schools should choose Youth MHFA training

Young people are facing increasing pressures, and early intervention can make a life‑changing difference. This course helps your staff:

• · Understand common mental health issues affecting young people
• · Recognise signs of distress and emerging concerns
• · Build confidence in approaching and supporting students
• · Learn the MHFA action plan for effective, safe conversations
• · Strengthen whole‑school wellbeing culture

Who is it for?

Teachers, pastoral leads, support staff, safeguarding teams, SEN specialists — anyone working directly with young people.

What will you gain from attending?

Participants leave with practical tools, increased confidence, and a deeper understanding of how to support students experiencing mental health difficulties. Every delegate receives a certificate of attendance as a Youth MHFA Champion and a comprehensive manual to reinforce learning.

Speaker Bio

Mike Crossley is a recently retired Headteacher, having spent 15 years as a Head and a total of 25 years in various senior management roles prior to Headship.  In his time as a Head, his school achieved 6 ‘outstanding’ inspection gradings and were also awarded the prestigious Wellbeing Award for Schools. He now works freelance for Optimus Education, assessing and advising schools who are seeking to attain this award.

Mike is a qualified Designated Mental Health Lead and an experienced MHFA Mental Health First Aid instructor. He is also a Level 7 qualified ILM Executive Coach and currently works with several Heads in a coaching and mentoring capacity.

He is a PGCE tutor at the University of Buckingham, a serving ISI team inspector and proudly sits on the Norfolk Adoption panel recommending both adoption placements and prospective adopters.

In his spare time Mike can be found fishing on various riverbanks in the UK and abroad!