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Original poster

MHFA England - captured?

63 replies

soontobeconfirmed · 02/06/2025 15:46

Currently on MHFA England training. It started off badly with the clearly female trainer introducing herself with her pronouns (she/her), she then introduced a case study using the term "cis" which I find highly offence. A later case study focused on a person called "Lou". During the feedback a participant used the pronoun "she". The trainer told her off for misgendering twice and stated that the case study had been deliberately designed to be a trick question that was ungendered to make us have a conversation regarding gender. This was really out of order in my opinion, especially as the trainer had kept going on about how to not be judgemental all session. We were not forced to have a conversation around any other protected characteristic, so it felt rather ideologically focused.Has anyone else been on this training and had a similar experience? I am so cross.

OP posts:
WaffleParty · 02/06/2025 16:09

If you’re serious about helping people with their mental health then you need to meet them where they’re at. For some people this may mean respecting the pronouns they use.
If you are not able to do this, then maybe you should re-think whether you really want to be a mental health first aider.

TobiasForgesContactLense · 02/06/2025 16:09

The MHFA training is highly scripted and trainers really aren't allowed to deviate or amend the case studies. Whilst the argument about misgendering does sounds ridiculous the trainers don't have a lot of choice about the content.

Original poster
soontobeconfirmed · 02/06/2025 16:07

Duckyfondant · 02/06/2025 16:06

So the point wasn't that it could be quite dangerous to presume gender if someone is in crisis? Because I imagine that's quite an easy mistake to make.

That wasn't the point at all. The point was that they deliberately didn't put a gender so they could tell people off for assuming one.

OP posts:
MrsOvertonsWindow · 02/06/2025 16:07

Feedback is your friend. But it does depend on why you're there, whether this is a paid for place via work etc - that's if there may be repercussions for you from the bekind brigade with honest and professional feedback allowed for everything except for this protected characteristic.

Training wise it's good to have our pre conceptions challenged in training and to be exposed to different viewpoints and experiences. But training isn't an opportunity for the trainer to enjoy pointless "gotchas" at the expense of trainees. People with mental heath issues come from all backgrounds and life experiences - only you and other delegates will know whether there was a balance of life experiences raised or whether trans has been elevated to the top of the importance tree again.

Maybe reflect on the whole session and decide on what's the most important issue to feedback on?

Duckyfondant · 02/06/2025 16:06

So the point wasn't that it could be quite dangerous to presume gender if someone is in crisis? Because I imagine that's quite an easy mistake to make.

Original poster
soontobeconfirmed · 02/06/2025 16:05

Duckyfondant · 02/06/2025 15:58

If someone needs urgent help with their mental health, you should indeed respect their gender identity. It is not the time for ideological quibble.

I would always respect any bodies gender identity, whether they were in a MH crisis or not. I just don't need trick questions and being force fed this bullshit in training. They person accused of miagendering has not spoken since they were told off, so it may be affecting their own MH to be publicly berated in that

OP posts:
RedToothBrush · 02/06/2025 16:05

What if it's a gender critical woman who is in distress because of a trans issue within her family? Then what?

Given that there's an alarming number of mental health breakdowns amongst family members apparently. But no one ever wants to talk about that.

Justme56 · 02/06/2025 16:05

Telling people off for misgendering sounds like the trainer needs some training herself. She is just getting people’s backs up, rather than starting a productive conversation (assuming that’s what she wanted to do). If there is an opportunity for feedback I’d probably mention that there are ways and means of opening up a discussion which don’t involve embarrassing those undertaking the training.

MysteriousInspector · 02/06/2025 16:01

Why not just say to respect gender presentation, as part of the training? This would provoke a discussion if the trainer wanted it.

And face to face is different from commenting on a case study.

Duckyfondant · 02/06/2025 15:58

If someone needs urgent help with their mental health, you should indeed respect their gender identity. It is not the time for ideological quibble.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 02/06/2025 15:58

Mental Health First Aid

Authorperson · 02/06/2025 15:52

@WindmillOfWimbledon google is your friend

WindmillOfWimbledon · 02/06/2025 15:51

What's MHFA?