What you'll learn

By the end of this course, you'll be able to

Notice the early signs that someone is in distress, even when they don't say it directly.

Apply the Look, Listen, Link method to respond calmly in the moment.

Use compassionate, non-judgemental listening that helps people feel safe.

Ask directly about suicide risk and refer onward safely, using Ask → Stay → Connect.

Hold clear ethical boundaries and know what's confidential — and what isn't.

Map your community's resources and build your own Action Plan, ready to use right away.

Curriculum

Ten modules, each with its own hands-on tool

Every module follows the same simple rhythm: Read → Reflect → Practice → Apply. Each pairs its focus area with a signature interactive tool you'll actually use — not just read about.

Introduction to PFA

What PFA is, your role & its limits

What Psychological First Aid is — and isn't — plus where your responsibility as a peer supporter begins and ends.
Signature tool: Circle of Support — mapping the people and services around someone in distress.

Understanding Mental Health

The continuum, risk & protective factors

Mental health as a continuum rather than a fixed state, and the factors that move someone along it in either direction.
Signature tool: Continuum Slider — placing real scenarios on the mental health spectrum.

Stress, Crisis, Trauma & Grief

Normal reactions to hard events

Why distress, panic, numbness, or anger are normal responses to abnormal events — not signs of weakness.
Signature tool: Reactions Wheel — recognising the wide range of normal responses to crisis.

Core Communication Skills

Listening, empathy, validation

Active listening, empathic responses, and validating someone's experience without rushing to fix it.
Signature tool: Listening Ladder — moving step by step from hearing to truly understanding.

Look, Listen, Link

The core PFA method

The central framework of the course — reading the situation, listening with presence, and linking someone to the right help.
Signature tool: LLL Flowchart — a clear decision path for in-the-moment response.

Supporting People in Distress

Anxiety, depression, panic, risk

Recognising and responding to common presentations — anxiety, depression, panic attacks — and when distress signals higher risk.
Signature tool: Signs & Response Maps — matching what you observe to an appropriate response.

Risk Identification & Referral

Suicide risk, safeguarding

How to ask directly and safely about suicide risk, recognise safeguarding concerns, and refer onward with care.
Signature tool: Ask → Stay → Connect — a simple, repeatable sequence for high-risk moments.

Ethics, Boundaries & Confidentiality

Trustworthy practice

Keeping people safe through clear boundaries, informed consent, and knowing what to keep confidential — and what you must share.
Signature tool: Confidentiality Traffic Light — a quick gauge for what can stay private and what can't.

Self-Care for Peer Supporters

Burnout & sustainability

Protecting your own wellbeing so you can keep showing up for others — recognising burnout early and building sustainable habits.
Signature tool: Wellness Plan — a personal plan you build for yourself, not just for others.

Community Action

Asset mapping & final project

Mapping the resources already available in your own community, then turning everything you've learned into a plan you'll actually use.
Signature tool: Action Plan Canvas — your capstone Community Peer Support Action Plan.

Is this for you?

Built for everyday people, not clinicians

This course is for you if you're

✓ A volunteer, peer supporter, or community organiser
✓ A teacher, faith leader, or youth mentor
✓ A workplace first-responder or HR lead
✓ Anyone who wants to help well, without a clinical background

This course is not

— A substitute for therapy or psychiatric treatment
— A clinical diagnosis or counselling qualification
— A crisis hotline or emergency response service

Who's behind it

Co-developed by Convo Africa & Yea Initiative for Mental Health

Dr Fridah Wachira

Signatory & Clinical Reviewer, Convo Academy

Course content is reviewed against WHO and Red Cross Psychological First Aid guidance, then adapted for African community contexts — so what you learn is both credible and genuinely usable where you live and work.

Before you enrol

Common questions

Do I need a background in psychology or healthcare?

No. This course is designed for everyday people — volunteers, teachers, faith leaders, and community members — with no clinical training required.

How long do I have to complete the course?

It's entirely self-paced. Most learners finish the ~30 hours of content within a few weeks, but you can take as long as you need.

Will I get a certificate?

Yes — on completion, you'll receive a certificate co-issued by Convo Africa and Yea Initiative for Mental Health.

Is this a substitute for professional treatment?

No. This course teaches you to recognise distress and respond well in the moment, then connect people to appropriate professional support — not to diagnose or treat.

What does the capstone involve?

You'll build a real Community Peer Support Action Plan — a short, practical document tailored to your own church, school, workplace, or neighbourhood, ready to use right after the course.

Can I take this on my phone?

Yes. Convo Academy is mobile-first and light on data, so you can learn from anywhere.