Develop your understanding of mental health with a free online Level 2 course. You’ll explore stress, anxiety, depression and a range of other mental health problems, including possible causes, common effects and how they may affect individuals and those around them.
The course is suitable for adults who want to improve their awareness for personal development, CPD, work, volunteering or further study.
This course builds knowledge and awareness. It does not qualify you to diagnose or treat mental health problems or practise as a mental health professional.
Free for eligible learners. Certificate included on completion.
Study online with tutor support. No previous mental health qualification required.
This course may be fully funded for eligible learners through the Adult Skills Fund.
Availability can depend on your location, eligibility and current funding options.
Build mental health awareness to support others in 6–12 weeks.
Gain a nationally recognised, accredited Level 2 qualification.
Fully funded for eligible adults through the Adult Skills Fund (ASF).
By the end of the course, you’ll have developed your understanding of:
The course develops awareness. It does not teach learners to diagnose conditions or provide clinical treatment.
The course contains 13 manageable units covering mental health and a range of mental health problems.
There are no exams. You’ll complete assessment questions based on the knowledge developed through each unit.
The exact qualification title or wording may vary slightly depending on your awarding body and training provider.
Explore what mental health means, how mental health problems may affect individuals and the legal frameworks linked to mental health care.
Develop your understanding of stress, possible causes, its effects on daily life and approaches that may help people manage it.
Explore anxiety, possible causes, how it may affect individuals and others and common management or support approaches.
Learn about phobias, their possible causes, effects, and approaches to managing them.
Develop awareness of depression, its possible causes, its effects on individuals and others, and common support or management approaches.
Explore postnatal depression, possible causes, its effects and approaches that may support those affected.
Develop your understanding of bipolar disorder, how it may affect individuals and common approaches to management and support.
Explore schizophrenia, possible causes, media representation and approaches that may be used to support or manage the condition.
Build awareness of dementia, possible causes, its impact on individuals and others and common support approaches.
Explore eating disorders, possible causes, their effects and approaches that may be used to support recovery and management.
Develop awareness of ADHD, how it may affect individuals and others and common approaches to support and management.
Explore OCD, possible causes, its effects and common approaches to support or management.
Develop your understanding of PTSD, possible causes, how it may affect individuals and others and approaches that may be used to support or manage it.
This free online mental health awareness course develops knowledge of mental health and a wide range of problems that can cause mental ill health.
You’ll explore stress, anxiety, phobias, depression, postnatal depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, eating disorders, ADHD, OCD and PTSD.
The course considers possible causes, common signs and symptoms, the effect conditions may have on individuals and others and approaches that may be used to support or manage them.
It is suitable for beginners and adults who want to improve their awareness for personal development, CPD, work, volunteering or further study. You do not need a previous mental health qualification.
You’ll study online with tutor support and complete assessment questions based on the course units. There are no exams.
On successful completion, you’ll gain a recognised Level 2 Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems from NCFE CACHE or TQUK, depending on your provider and location.
This course does not qualify you to diagnose or treat mental health problems or practise as a counsellor, therapist or mental health professional.
This course may be suitable if you want to:
This course is educational and knowledge-based. It does not replace professional mental health advice, role-specific training or clinical qualifications.
Learn in confidence with support from a qualified tutor throughout the course.
Join thousands of learners in growing both professionally and personally.
1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England.
Source: Mind
Your 3 simple steps to qualification…
You can begin your stress-free journey to qualification by completing the short form on this page.
Once submitted, we’ll instantly match you with a relevant training provider based on your location to complete your enrolment.
Enjoy a flexible and engaging learning experience through an award-winning online platform with support from a qualified tutor.
You can access first-class resources, interactive case studies, and support tools. All available on any device, anytime.
Your nationally recognised level 2 certificate proves you’ve developed essential new skills and in-depth knowledge. The qualification is accredited by either NCFE or TQUK, depending on your location.
It’s a powerful personal achievement that boosts confidence, enhances employability, supports CPD and opens the door to further study or career progression.
This course can provide a foundation for further study and CPD in mental health, care, wellbeing and support-focused subjects.
After completing the course, you may choose to explore:
The qualification may support awareness, confidence, CPD and further learning.
It does not qualify you to diagnose or treat mental health problems or work as a counsellor, therapist, psychologist, mental health nurse or other regulated mental health professional. It does not guarantee employment or progression into a particular role.
Watch recent video testimonials from our learners.
This course is fully funded for eligible learners in England through the UK Government’s Adult Skills Fund.
Your course will be delivered online by one of our approved training provider partners, depending on your location.
Last year, we helped over 140,000 people enrol on free courses. Start yours today…
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Funding isn’t available for Skilled Worker visas, Student visas, Graduate visas, Sponsorship (skilled/seasonal) visas, or any visa with a study restriction.
If this applies, you won’t be eligible for funding.
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Yes, the course is free for eligible learners. Funding depends on your eligibility, location, circumstances and current availability.
Yes. The course is completed online and includes support from a qualified tutor.
Yes. When you successfully complete the course, you’ll receive a recognised Level 2 certificate in awareness of mental health problems.
Yes. The course leads to a recognised Level 2 qualification awarded by NCFE or TQUK, depending on your provider and location.
The course covers mental health, stress, anxiety, phobias, depression, postnatal depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, eating disorders, ADHD, OCD and PTSD.
Yes. This course develops mental health awareness and leads to a Level 2 certificate.
It is normally completed over 6 to 12 weeks, so it is different from a short workplace workshop or brief awareness session.
No. This is a Level 2 awareness of mental health problems qualification.
Mental health first aid and mental health advocacy are covered by a separate course and qualification.
No. This course is not an NVQ.
It is a Level 2 certificate in awareness of mental health problems, awarded by NCFE CACHE or TQUK depending on your provider.
No. The course does not qualify you to work as a counsellor, therapist, psychologist, mental health nurse or other regulated mental health professional.
It is designed to build awareness and understanding.
The course can help you understand a range of mental health problems and communicate more sensitively.
It does not qualify you to diagnose conditions, provide treatment or replace professional advice or support.
It may support awareness and CPD in care, health, education, community or support-focused settings.
Employers may require additional induction, role-specific qualifications, practical experience or mandatory training.
The course leads to a regulated Level 2 qualification. Individual employers decide which qualifications, experience and training are required for a particular role.
The certificate does not guarantee employment or career progression.
No. The course is suitable for beginners and no previous mental health qualification is required.
No. You’ll complete assessment questions based on the knowledge covered in the course units.
The course usually takes 6 to 12 weeks, based on around 5 to 10 recommended study hours per week.
You can normally study one funded course at a time. The total number available depends on your eligibility, provider rules and current funding availability.
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TQUK qualifications are delivered by The Skills Network.
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