A lot of hesitation about MHFA training comes down to a handful of assumptions. Here's what's actually true.

Myth 1: "It's just common sense." Recognising distress and responding well is a skill, not an instinct. Most people freeze or say the wrong thing with good intentions, because nobody's ever shown them what actually helps.

Myth 2: "It's too expensive." Poor mental health costs UK employers £51 billion a year, according to Deloitte's most recent figures. Training a handful of first aiders costs a fraction of losing one employee to stress-related absence or resignation.

Myth 3: "It makes people responsible for fixing mental illness." First aiders aren't therapists. Their job is to notice, listen, and point someone towards proper support, the same way a physical first aider stabilises and refers on.

Myth 4: "We already have an Employee Assistance Programme." An EAP only helps if people use it. Many don't, often because nobody's had the conversation that gets them to pick up the phone. First aiders are often the reason someone finally reaches out.

Myth 5: "It's only needed in high-risk industries." HSE's 2024/25 figures show stress, depression and anxiety affecting nearly a million workers across all sectors, with public administration, education and healthcare among the hardest hit, but no industry is exempt.

Myth 6: "One session and the job's done." MHFA is a skill, not a certificate to file away. It needs refreshing and reinforcing, the same as any other safety-critical training.



Myth 7: "We've never had a problem, so we don't need it." Stigma means most organisations underestimate what's actually happening. The absence of reported problems is rarely the same as the absence of problems.