MikeWorldWide supports MHFA England to launch England’s first and only membership body for Mental Health First Aiders

LONDON, 18 JUNE – As England’s mental health crisis shows little sign of declining, Mental Health First Aid England, the national authority on mental health first aid, has today unveiled a groundbreaking initiative poised to ignite a new era of action in mental health. The Association of Mental Health First Aiders is England’s first and only membership body for MHFAiders. 

Leading independent public relations agency, MikeWorldWide, has helped to deliver a bold new brand and identity for the Association of Mental Health First Aiders, as part of its pro bono work. This has included defining the proposition, positioning, brand hierarchy, look, feel, tone of voice, and message direction. Their support will ensure that members of the Association are empowered to transform how we talk about and support mental health in the workplace and beyond. 

Speaking about the partnership and new brand, Head of Brand and Marketing at MHFA England, Caroline Lane said, 

“Partnering with MikeWorldWide on our new brand for the Association was an absolute pleasure. They took our brief and expertly shaped our brand hierarchy, design, proposition and messaging, engaging key stakeholders throughout the process. The result is a brand we are proud of and one that will bolster our desire to lead the way in igniting a new era of action in mental health.” 

Amadi Tagoe, Vice President and Head of Purpose at MikeWorldWide London continues, 

“In an industry that has a reputation for being fast-paced and demanding, at MikeWorldWide we’re invested in prioritising mental health in the workplace. We believe the Association, built upon the incredible foundation laid by MHFA England, has the power to make a real difference in reshaping mental health conversations for the better. As a trained Mental Health First Aider myself, I’m excited to see the impact of our collaborative work come to fruition, empowering and growing the MHFAider community now and in the future.” 

Recent statistics paint a stark picture of the mental health challenges facing the country, underscoring the urgent need for effective intervention and support. Suicide rates are rising and there are 1.9 million people waiting to access mental health services. The cost of poor mental health to individuals, businesses, and state is enormous with the Centre for Mental Health estimating it cost £110 million in 2022. 

The Association will redefine the landscape of workplace mental health support. By creating the largest dedicated community of Mental Health First Aiders, MHFA England can support members long after they have completed their course. For the first time, members will have exclusive access to a wide range of resources, from ongoing training and qualifications to events and research, supporting them to fulfil their roles with confidence, skill, and care. 

Speaking about the launch of the Association of Mental Health First Aiders, Sarah McIntosh, Director of Membership at the Association of Mental Health First Aiders said: 

“Every day our MHFAiders are having life changing and lifesaving conversations. We need to support them to keep doing so. 

“The Association is the next stage of empowering a growing community of Mental Health First Aiders to tackle stigma and lead transformative change in our society. 

“We are hugely grateful to MikeWorldWide for their expertise, care, and commitment to launching the Association of Mental Health First Aiders. Their support will help to shift the dial on mental health for the better, now and in the future.” 

Research carried out by MHFA England highlights the profound impact of MHFAiders across England. An overwhelming 94% of MHFAiders believe they are challenging stigma around mental health. 91% feel they are transforming the way society talks about and supports mental health. Moreover, 91% believe that MHFAiders save lives, affirming the critical importance of their interventions. 

54% of MHFAiders say they use the skills they have learnt more than once a week. With a further 29% using their skills at least once a month. With over 300,000 MHFA England trained MHFAiders in England, this equates to thousands of supportive mental health conversations taking place each day. 

Over the coming months, MHFAiders who have completed the MHFA course, or the MHFA Refresher, in the last three years will be invited to join the Association via a welcome email. 

As part of the launch of the Association of Mental Health First Aiders, MHFA England has also redeveloped its MHFA Refresher course which launches today. The new course has been updated with the latest mental health statistics and guidance. 

MHFA England recommend that MHFAiders take the MHFA Refresher course every three years to ensure their mental health knowledge, awareness, and skills are up to date. MHFAiders will now need to take the MHFA Refresher course, or repeat the MHFA course, every three years to renew their membership of the Association of Mental Health First Aiders and continue to access their benefits.   

For more information on how to become an MHFAider visit, mhfaengland.org.  From 18 June, visit https://aomhfa.org to find out more about the Association.