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For schools planning staff training

Teacher mental health training: the right training for each part of your staff team

Not every teacher needs the same course. This page helps you decide what your staff team needs – to support students, and to stay well themselves.

For whole-school plans that include students and parents, see mental health training for schools. For the one-day course on responding to a student in distress, see HOLD.

See Youth Mental Health ResponseSee all workshops

Which training does each part of your staff need?

  • Every member of staff: a short awareness session that builds one shared language (Mental Health Literacy)
  • Tutors, pastoral and learning-support staff: HOLD, one day on responding to a student in distress
  • Pastoral leads, safeguarding leads and counsellors: LEAD, one day on pathways and supervision
  • Staff supporting neurodivergent students: bespoke neurodiversity training with Kelly Lynn Redden
  • Everyone, every year: a staff wellbeing session focused on the adults themselves

Teacher wellbeing: looking after the adults

  • Recognising early burnout in yourself and colleagues
  • Psychological safety in staff teams
  • Sustainable habits that survive a term, not a week
  • Supporting staff after a difficult student disclosure

Planning a year of staff training

A common sequence: an awareness session for all staff at the start of the year, HOLD for tutors and pastoral staff in the first term, LEAD for the pastoral leadership team before policy review, and a staff wellbeing session when workload peaks. Formats include INSET days, twilight sessions and two-part online cohorts; groups of 8–30 work best.

What it is built on

The response training is part of Youth Mental Health Response, independently developed and MHFA-informed – not an accredited MHFA course. Sessions also draw on WHO guidance on school mental health and our own classroom experience.

Free guide for teachers

A short, practical download you can use before any training starts.

  • For teachers

    Recognising Early Signs of Student Mental Health Challenges

    What to look for, what to say in the first five minutes, and how to hand over without breaking trust.

    Get the guide

Common questions

How is this different from HOLD?
HOLD is one specific one-day course on responding to a student in distress. This page helps you plan training for your whole teaching staff: who needs HOLD, who needs a shorter awareness session, who needs LEAD, and how to look after teachers' own wellbeing.
Do teachers need prior training?
No. Every option assumes no clinical background.
Can staff training be combined with student and parent sessions?
Yes. For a whole-school plan across students, staff and parents, see mental health training for schools.
Is this an accredited MHFA course?
No. Our curriculum is independently developed and MHFA-informed rather than an accredited Mental Health First Aid course. It is not quality-assured by MHFA England or any official MHFA provider, and we are explicit about that so schools can choose what they need.
What does 'MHFA-informed' actually mean?
It means we share MHFA's first-response philosophy - notice the signs, stay calm, listen without fixing, guide towards the right help - but the content is our own, built around the ANCHOR framework and split across the NOTICE, HOLD and LEAD tiers. The programme is not quality-assured by MHFA England or another official MHFA provider.
What certificate do participants receive?
Participants who complete a Youth Mental Health Response tier receive the LBR Youth Mental Health Response Certificate - an LBR-issued professional training certificate, valid for three years. It is not an externally accredited clinical qualification.

Looking for the full programme?

Ask us about this programme

Tell us a little about your school or family and we will reply with dates, formats and pricing - usually within one working day.

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Plan your staff training year

Send us your staff numbers and INSET dates and we will propose which training each group needs, with a written quote.

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