Mental Health First Aid for Men
Not another box-ticking exercise. A training programme built around how men actually communicate, struggle, and recover - delivered by people who've been through it.
Why generic MHFA doesn't work for men
The problem
- Standard MHFA uses clinical language men don't connect with
- Designed for general audiences - men feel it's not for them
- Focuses on recognising symptoms, not on how to actually start a conversation with a man who won't talk
- Delivered once, forgotten - no ongoing reinforcement
The Holdfast difference
- Built around male communication patterns and lived experience
- Teaches how to ask the direct question about suicide - and what to do when the answer is yes
- Delivered by clinical professionals and men who've survived crisis
- Online self-directed version for ongoing access
The programme
5 modules, approximately 10 hours total. Flexible delivery - online, in-person, or blended. Certification on completion.
Your Story
3 hoursStructured reflection on lived experience. What happened, what helped, what you wish someone had said. This is the foundation - understanding your own story before you can hold space for someone else's.
Listening Without Fixing
2 hoursThe single most important skill. How to be present without trying to solve. How to hold space. What active listening actually means when a man is sitting across from you and he's not okay.
Recognising Risk
2 hoursThe language of crisis. Escalation signals. How to ask the direct question about suicide - research shows asking directly does not increase risk and frequently opens the door. What to do if the answer is yes.
Platform Skills
1.5 hoursUsing the AI co-pilot. The escalation protocol. Safeguarding obligations. The practical tools that keep everyone safe. For employers bundling with platform access.
Staying Safe
1.5 hoursYour own mental health when supporting others. Recognising secondary trauma. When to step back. How to process difficult conversations. The peer model applied to the supporters themselves.
Annual 3-hour refresher keeps certification current. Training is delivered by clinical professionals and experienced Holdfasts - the peer model applied to training itself.
Delivery options
Three ways to bring Holdfast training to your organisation.
Facilitated Cohort
per cohort of 12–20 participants
- Live sessions with facilitator
- Online or in-person
- Group exercises and role play
- Individual certification
- Completion reporting for employer
Online Self-Directed
per person
- Complete at own pace
- Video content and exercises
- Assessment at own schedule
- Individual certification
- Scales without marginal cost
Facilitator Certification
train your own people
- Certify internal facilitators
- Run training in-house, ongoing
- Includes all materials and guides
- Annual recertification
- Ideal for large organisations
Who it's for
Anyone in your organisation who interacts with men - particularly those in positions to notice when something's wrong.
Line Managers
First to notice changes in behaviour and performance
HR Teams
Handle sensitive conversations and support referrals
Health & Safety
Mental health is a workplace safety issue
MH Champions
Deepens existing mental health first aider skills
First Aiders
Extends physical first aid to mental health response
Senior Leaders
Sets the tone from the top - culture change starts here
Bundle with platform access and save
The Training Bundle tier includes facilitated cohorts, online self-directed access, and full platform licences for your entire workforce. One contract, maximum impact.