Training and events

Free online training

FutureLearn partners with top international universities and industry experts to offer free online courses.

The courses below are free to access, however to gain a certificate of achievement there is a cost, either per course or as an annual subscription.

1. Psychological First Aid training (PHE)

The course will explore the techniques of psychological first aid (PFA), the globally recommended training for supporting people during emergencies. You’ll focus on children and young people’s mental health, and what you can do to help them cope and access the support they need during and after emergencies and crisis situations, and will cover:

• What is Psychological First Aid?
• How do children and young people respond to emergencies and crisis situations?
• The PFA stages to supporting people: Prepare, Look, Listen, Link
• Supporting yourself and your colleagues

Course duration: 3 weeks, 1 hour a week

More information and how to sign up for Psychological First Aid training

2. Mindfulness: A Focus on Adolescents (University of Glasgow)

In this course you’ll get practical illustrations of how mindfulness can be of particular value in the lives of everyone, and younger people in particular. a hands-on introduction to mindfulness and its benefits, the training will cover:

• The application and evidence base for mindfulness in education settings
• Case studies of young people who have used mindfulness, and how it helped them
• Basic introduction to simple mindfulness techniques
• The role of mindfulness in helping with anxiety, focus, exam stress, compassion and improving wellbeing

Course duration: 4 weeks, 4 hours per week

More information and how to sign up for Mindfulness: A Focus on Adolescents

3. Youth Mental Health: Helping Young People with Anxiety (University of East Anglia)

An introduction to managing anxiety disorders in teenagers, with a course ideal for teachers and healthcare professionals.

Anxiety is a common condition experienced by young people that can escalate to a point where it impacts on their general wellbeing and activities of daily living; brain development and performance at school or college. If untreated the risk of developing chronic and enduring mental health conditions increases, as well as the risks of deliberate self-harm and suicide.

On this course you will learn how to identify anxiety disorders experienced by young people, understand ‘stigma’ related to mental health and develop your ability to help a young person experiencing debilitating anxiety

• Week 1: Introduction to course and characteristics and causes of adolescent anxiety
• Week 2: Anxiety as a biopsychosocial condition
• Week 3: Assisting a young person experiencing abnormal anxiety states

Course duration: 3 weeks, 3 hours per week

More information and how to sign up for Youth Mental Health: Helping Young People with Anxiety

4. COVID-19: Helping Young People Manage Low Mood and Depression (University of Reading)

Learn how young people can manage low mood and depression during COVID-19.

On this course, young people, parents, carers, teachers, and other professionals can learn helpful, practical techniques to cope with low mood and depression during the lockdown period and beyond. You’ll examine how to help young people structure their day and improve sleep and diet.

You’ll explore how to build positive family communication, and learn tips on how to manage your thoughts and feelings, building long-lasting resilience along the way.

• Week 1: Structure, healthy habits, modelling and self-care
• Week 2: Managing difficult thoughts and feelings, getting along and resilience

Course duration: 2 weeks, 2 hours per week

More information and how to sign up for COVID-19: Helping Young People Manage Low Mood and Depression

5. Anxiety in Children and Young People during COVID-19 (University of East Anglia)

The impact of coronavirus can be seen on every facet of our society. One of the key challenges of these unprecedented times is the heightened risks caused by anxiety, especially in younger people.

On this course, you’ll learn what anxiety is and how to support young people suffering from anxiety in the time of coronavirus.

With mental health professionals at the University of East Anglia and partnering mental health organisations, you’ll discover triggers and signs of anxiety to look out for. You’ll also discover practical solutions for helping the young people in your life, and where to find additional help. The training will cover:

• Impact of COVID 19 on mental health/anxiety in young people
• What is anxiety and its causes
• Importance of support
• Guidance for parents
• Spotting symptoms
• Advice/treatment and support

Course duration: 2 weeks, 2 hours per week

More information and how to sign up for Anxiety in Children and Young People during COVID-19

6. The PEP TALK Guide to Supporting Young Peopel's Mental Health (Mental Health Foundation)

This course will teach you different ways you can support young people who have experienced trauma, focussing on the youth mental wellbeing resource PEP TALK.

Developed alongside professionals at the Mental Health Foundation, PEP TALK was initially used to support young people returning from COVID-19 lockdown. The resource can also be used as a framework to help you support young people going through a period of stress or trauma.

Course duration: 2 weeks, 1 hour per week

More information and how to sign up for the PEP TALK Guide to Supporting Young Peopel's Mental Health