Mental Health First Aid Book: Which One To Buy & Where
Mental health first aid books: a practical reading guide
Choose a book for the skill you want to develop: listening, workplace support or understanding psychological first aid.
Compare the booksBook details checked 18 October 2026
A useful mental health first aid book should match what you need to do. A colleague practising supportive conversations needs something different from a manager planning workplace support. Start with the skill or question you want to work on, then choose a book with that purpose.
This reading list brings together four published titles, with verified authors and publication details. The selections are based on publisher descriptions and catalogues checked on 18 October 2026. Each entry explains its focus and the limits to keep in mind.
Reading can complement your learning, but buying or completing a book does not award a mental health first aid qualification. For a workplace role, use your course materials and your employer’s procedures alongside any further reading.
Compare the books by what you need
| Book | Where it fits |
|---|---|
| Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace Gill Hasson and Donna Butler · second edition | For managers and workplace teams. Looks at organisational support and employee wellbeing. It is broader than the individual first-aider role. |
| How to Listen Katie Colombus · 2021 | For supportive conversations. Focuses on listening and helping someone talk. It is not a full first-aid course manual. |
| The Johns Hopkins Guide to Everyday Psychological First Aid George S. Everly, Jr. and Jeffrey M. Lating · 2026 | For exploring psychological first aid. Uses the Johns Hopkins approach. Keep its framework distinct from the action plan taught on your own course. |
| Mental Health Emergencies Nick Benas and Michele Hart · 2017 | For background reading about mental health crises. A US-published title; check UK services and workplace procedures separately. |
You do not need to buy all four. If you are starting a course, first check which learning materials are included and whether your trainer recommends any additional reading.
A closer look at each book
Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace
Gill Hasson and Donna Butler
Wiley · second edition, listed October 2025 · paperback ISBN 9781907312984
The publisher describes a guide for employers and employees, covering workplace wellbeing strategy, support for staff and the relationship between work and mental health. Case studies consider both employer and employee perspectives.
Consider it if: you want to connect first-aider provision with wider workplace arrangements, rather than concentrate only on one-to-one conversations.
Keep in mind: this is a broad workplace guide. It does not establish your organisation’s policies or replace checking current requirements for your situation.
How to Listen
Katie Colombus
Kyle Books / Hachette · 2021 · paperback ISBN 9780857839404
This book draws on the experience of Samaritans. Its publisher highlights opening conversations, listening without judgement and encouraging someone to share what they are feeling.
Consider it if: you want further reading on the conversation skills used when supporting a colleague, friend or family member. It offers a narrower focus than a general mental health reference book.
Keep in mind: listening is one part of a first-aider’s role. This book is not a programme-specific training manual, a qualification or a replacement for learning your workplace’s escalation arrangements.
The Johns Hopkins Guide to Everyday Psychological First Aid
George S. Everly, Jr. and Jeffrey M. Lating
Johns Hopkins University Press · published 20 January 2026
The publisher positions this title for adults without formal mental health training. It adapts the Johns Hopkins RAPID approach for everyday situations and includes scenarios, communication skills and checklists.
Consider it if: you want to understand a psychological first-aid framework and how the authors apply it to everyday distress.
Keep in mind: psychological first aid and a particular Mental Health First Aid course are not interchangeable credentials. Treat this as additional reading; follow the boundaries and procedures taught on your own programme. Check the selected format on the publisher’s page when buying.
Mental Health Emergencies
Nick Benas and Michele Hart
Hatherleigh Press · published 29 August 2017 · paperback ISBN 9781578266746
The publisher describes overviews of serious mental health problems for readers including first responders, teachers, counsellors and HR professionals. Its subject matter includes distress and mental health crises.
Consider it if: you want broader background reading about the situations a first aider may hear about, while keeping your own role clearly defined.
Keep in mind: this is a US-published book from 2017. Do not assume its service information or legal context applies to a UK workplace today. Publication details are verified; this listing is not a claim that every piece of advice has been clinically reviewed by us.
What to check before buying
- Exact title, author and edition. Use the ISBN for the format you want. Similar titles and older editions can appear together in shop results.
- Purpose. Decide whether you need listening practice, workplace planning, background knowledge or the manual for a specific training programme.
- Country and context. Check where the book was written. Service names, legal information and referral arrangements can differ from those used in your workplace.
- Sample pages. Look at the contents and any available extract before buying. Choose a format and writing style you can use comfortably.
- What your course already provides. Ask your training provider before buying a separate manual. A book with “mental health first aid” in its title is not automatically the manual for your qualification.
- Current price and availability. Publisher links help identify the correct title. Compare the exact edition across bookshops or ask your library; this guide does not promise stock or a fixed price.
A newer publication date can help you identify an updated edition, but it does not by itself prove that a book is accurate, suitable or more effective. Older books may still be useful for a particular topic; time-sensitive information needs a current check.
Turn further reading into something useful
- Pick one learning goal. For example, understanding listening habits or reviewing how colleagues find workplace support.
- Note a question to discuss. Bring it to your trainer or the person responsible for your workplace’s mental health arrangements.
- Check how it fits your role. Keep the action plan from your training, local support information and your employer’s procedures easy to find.
- Review your resource list. Replace outdated contact details and confirm the edition before recommending a book to someone else.
For a practical introduction to the role itself, read our guide to first aid for mental health. If your aim is to train for a workplace first-aider role, see the Level 3 Mental Health First Aid course for its learning, assessment and entry requirements.