We are proud to have trained over 800 individuals from across the UK music industry to become Mental Health First Aiders.
We are incredibly grateful for their feedback and enthusiasm for the course and for Music Support.
Maintaining good mental health is absolutely paramount for me as a touring musician. Having increased my own touring schedule over the past three years, and with it my network of professionals I work with, I have noticed how much of a challenge this can be, both on the road and at home. After completing the MHFA course with Music Support, I feel far more confident in approaching and discussing traditionally ‘difficult’ subjects with friends and colleagues. Alongside this, I have more tools for dealing with my own personal experiences of good and bad patches of mental health. The learning format was enlightening too - working in small groups with people from all walks of life, all of whom work in the same industry, allows for a range of differing life experiences to be shared and considered. I’ve been recommending the course to everyone!”
Jack
musician
Thanks to Music Support and MHFA England I am now a qualified Mental Health First Aider. I urge anyone working in the music industry or any industry to get wise on how to support people during poor periods of mental health. Not only that, but how to spot the telltale signs of a decline or potential crisis situation. You could help in saving someone’s life. The knowledge learned on this course was invaluable and it feels like another step forward in breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. I am so proud to have this certificate.”
Bea
Tour Manager / Musician
Participating in the course enabled me to improve my listening and processing skills in all areas of my life. I feel like a much more empathetic, approachable and supportive person."
Tom
Musician & Tour Manager.
Doing the MHFA course really gave me clarity and confidence on how to approach and support people with poor mental health, whether they are friends, collaborators, artists or punters. Having worked as a stage manager for 10+ years, I've had to act fast in challenging situations and because of Music Support & MHFA, I've now got the training to guide me, protect me and give me the confidence when dealing with issues regarding poor mental health of others or my own. I found the MHFA course engaging, informative, empowering, therapeutic and really enjoyed sharing and learning in a safe space with like-minded people in the same line of work as me. Davey, our trainer, was awesome and really made the experience genuine and personal."
Marilena
Live acts booker, Artist Liaison and Stage Manager
Meet your Music Support MHFA instructors
Norman Beecher
Senior Learning and Development Specialist
Norman said: “Facilitating Mental Health First Aid training means empowering others with the knowledge and skills to foster well-being, break stigma, and support those in need with empathy and understanding. I have immense gratitude that I’m able to do this work.” Find out more about Norman
Just to say a huge thanks for the opportunity and thanks to Norman who was a fantastic tutor. I really got so much out of the course and the materials were really informative. The way the whole thing was structured was really clear and I learned so much. Thanks again!”
This course was amazing, and Norman was such an inspirational and motivational course leader. It’s a course that I truly believe everyone should do as it’s so important. I really appreciated the ‘check-ins’ on participants in the course. We were a group from the music and events industry and the case studies had been adapted to be relevant to that which was an extremely helpful touch as it really helped me to consider scenarios that were similar to ones I have seen in the past and frequently. This course has not only helped me in my ability to support people’s mental health going forward but also my own and how to better look after myself (particularly when supporting others) Thank you very much”.
I’d just like to say a big thank you again to Norman! He was a fantastic coach and due to his fab and friendly attitude we all settled quickly in the group and it created a lovely safe atmosphere for us to learn and communicate with each other. Being in my early 20s I have experienced myself mental health issues and seen my friends experience it too, so I’m so happy I took part in this course as moving forward I now feel so much more confident if there is a situation where I need to apply my MHFA training, Norman has inspired me a lot to learn more about mental ill health, so I can’t thank you enough! 
Thank you so much!”
Thank you so much!” 
Hannah Brinley
Learning and Development Specialist
Hannah said: “Enabling people to recognise the signs and intervene early to help friends, colleagues and loved ones avoid crisis and long-term ill health is a privilege, and something I am incredibly proud to facilitate.” Find out more about Hannah
This is an outstanding course that everyone in the industry should be taking, particularly people in leadership positions. It was extremely informative and gave so many useful tools. It was also an open, honest and safe space environment on our zoom calls, meaning people were far more open to being honest and create a much more effective work environment. Hannah Brinley for Prime Minister!”
Absolutely LOVED this course. I am so, so glad I did it. It's given me a whole new perspective, understanding and confidence in supporting others with their mental health, and more so than ever do I understand the importance of doing so. Hannah is incredible- crystal clear explanations, engaging, warm- utterly inspiring. I will be shouting from the rooftops about this course, recommending it to all my colleagues/ friends and very much hope to continue to work with MHFA England & Music Support going forward. Couldn't have asked for more. Thank you!”
The environment of the course & Hannah's amazing guidance through the many topics covered & the open approach she has to the whole group gave us a really supportive forum to share experiences & learn from the course materials & each other. I really feel that I have gained so much from the course & have become a big advocate for others to work through the course & am determined to get mental health welfare onto an equal footing in touring with other health & safety considerations. Thanks again to Hannah & the Music Support team for all that they are doing in this area & for running this course.”
Davey Shields
Learning and Development Specialist
Davey said: “Teaching mental health and wellbeing awareness is more than a job for me; it’s a passion rooted in my own journey of recovery. I take real pride in creating a compassionate, relatable space for creatives to learn how to better support themselves and each other.” Find out more about Davey.
Davey was an excellent instructor - very approachable, clear and informative. The use of the video and conversation role play were very helpful. I also came to understand a little better the nuances and potential challenges of supporting, for example, someone who may have ADHD. Highly recommend Davey.”
I really loved how Davey utilised many of the techniques we learned. I instantly felt heard, listened to, mirrored, accepted. All of the skills required to be a MHFA virtually embodied in a person. To have an instructor instantly do that felt wonderful. I could instantly see this is a person who has done a lot of work on themselves to get to that stage. Our group had all come from a mix of music, nightlife, festival, and even queer/diverse backgrounds which made it feel safer for me to express, to grow with them, discuss, problem solve, find collective support and be able to share freely and openly. Very appreciative and filled with gratitude!”
The MHFA course was incredibly helpful. I feel much more confident to be in a position to help anyone in either a prevention or crisis situation. Davey was an amazing instructor - highly engaging even with the barriers that a zoom setting can present. I’m really grateful to have been able to take part.”
Watch this LIVE discussion with Matt Bagshaw of Festivall Services and Natalie Witts from the Musicians’ Union where they talk to Norman about why they decided to become Mental Health First Aiders with Music Support and the impact it has had on their lives, both professionally and personally
The team at Method Events wrote a short blog about their experience of becoming Mental Health First Aiders with Music Support.
Watch this interview where Music Support volunteer and founder of the Roadie Cookbook, Kel Murray, meets Caoimhe from the Oh Yeah Centre in Belfast who shares her experience of becoming a Mental Health First Aider with Music Support
If you have any questions or would like to register for our Mental Health First Aid training course please contact learning@musicsupport.org
Find further information on our Mental Health First Aid training course.