SMHFA: What Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid Is and What Employers Should Look For

If you have looked into mental health first aid in Scotland, you have probably come across SMHFA. Employers often ask us what it is, whether it is still running, and how it compares with other mental health first aid courses. This article explains it plainly, so you can choose the right training for your people.

What is SMHFA?

SMHFA stands for Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid. You will also see it called Scottish Mental Health First Aid. It is a course developed in Scotland and now overseen by Public Health Scotland, and it has trained a great many people across the country.

Like other mental health first aid courses, it aims to help people notice when someone may be struggling, offer initial support, and guide them towards the right help. There is also a version for adults who work with young people, called SMHFA: Young People.

Courses are run by trained instructors, often through NHS boards, local councils and charities. A course usually takes around 12 hours, spread over two days or several shorter sessions.

Is SMHFA still running?

Yes. SMHFA courses are still run across Scotland. Availability depends on where you are and who is delivering locally, so dates can be harder to find in some areas than others.

What does an SMHFA certificate mean?

Most providers describe SMHFA as giving a certificate of attendance. That shows someone completed the course. It is different from a credit rated qualification, where learners are assessed and the course sits at a set level on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

Neither is right or wrong. It depends on what your organisation needs. If you want your mental health first aiders to hold a recognised qualification, it is worth asking about this before you book.

The best course is the one that leaves your people able to act when it matters.

What to look for in mental health first aid training in Scotland

Whichever course you choose, these are the questions we would ask:

• Is it credit rated? Ask whether the course is credit rated on the SCQF, at what level, and how learners are assessed.
• Who delivers it? Trainers who work with mental health every day can answer real questions, not just read the slides.
• Is there time to practise? Knowing the theory is not the same as starting a difficult conversation. Look for role play and real scenarios.
• Does it fit your workplace? A course that reflects your setting, whether that is an office, a site or a shift pattern, is easier to put into practice.
• What happens afterwards? Good training links to your own support routes and policies, and to refresher training as time goes on.

How our courses compare

We don’t run SMHFA itself. We run our own mental health first aid courses, designed by practising therapists and built around our REACH OUT framework. They are credit rated and recognised by Qualifications Scotland, with levels that are equivalent to the RQF in England.

• Mental health awareness training, a half day course at SCQF Level 4 (RQF Level 1 equivalent)
• One day mental health first aid at SCQF Level 5 (RQF Level 2 equivalent)
• Two day mental health first aid, our most in-depth course, at SCQF Level 6 (RQF Level 3 equivalent)

We deliver at your workplace anywhere in Scotland, online, or at our training centre in Glasgow. If you are booking for yourself or a small team, we also run open courses in 2027.

Questions employers ask about SMHFA

This article is part of our practical guide to workplace mental health training for UK employers.