Safety Training Awards (STA) is marking World Mental Health Day 2026 by announcing the launch of two new regulated qualifications designed to give people the knowledge, confidence and practical skills to better understand and respond to mental health needs.

Available from Monday 12th October, the new STA Level 2 Award in Mental Health Awareness and STA Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid have been developed to support greater mental health awareness and provide practical mental health first aid skills.

The STA Level 2 Award in Mental Health Awareness is designed to help learners recognise when someone may be experiencing a mental health difficulty or emotional distress. The qualification explores the importance of mental health and self-care, common mental health conditions and mental health within the workplace.

Suitable for learners aged 16 and over, the Level 2 qualification can be completed in one day and offers flexible delivery options, including face-to-face, live remote tutor-led sessions and blended learning.

For those wanting to take their knowledge and skills further, the STA Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid builds on the same Mental Health Awareness unit covered at Level 2 and adds a second unit dedicated specifically to Mental Health First Aid.

The Level 3 qualification develops learners’ ability to recognise and respond appropriately when someone may be experiencing mental health difficulties or emotional distress. It covers the role, responsibilities and boundaries of a mental health first aider, effective communication, dynamic risk assessment and crisis intervention, as well as how to provide initial support for a range of common mental health conditions.

Both qualifications are regulated by Ofqual in England, Qualifications Wales in Wales and CCEA Regulation in Northern Ireland, with accreditation in Scotland currently pending. The Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid is also partially mapped to the CIMSPA Working inclusively – Working with People with Mental Health Conditions professional standard.

Helen Done, Qualification and Business Development Manager at STA, said: “World Mental Health Day provides an important opportunity to talk openly about mental health, but awareness and support need to extend far beyond one day.

“Through these new qualifications, we want to give people the knowledge and confidence to recognise when somebody may be struggling and understand how they can respond appropriately and supportively.

“We’ve also created a clear progression route. The Level 2 qualification provides a strong foundation in mental health awareness, while Level 3 builds on this knowledge and develops the additional skills needed to provide mental health first aid. This gives learners and employers the flexibility to choose the level of training that is right for them.”

The launch further expands STA’s growing portfolio of first aid qualifications, providing learners and employers with more opportunities to develop essential skills that support both physical and mental health and wellbeing.

The new STA Level 2 Award in Mental Health Awareness and STA Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid will be available from Monday 12th October 2026.

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