So what's our story?
We are “AMHIE” (pronounced like “Amy”) – the Association of Mental Health in Education. Far from being a single person, we’re a UK-based professional body and network dedicated to supporting mental health leads, teachers, and school leaders. Formally launched in 2024 (evolving from the National Network of Mental Health Leads) we help educational settings navigate the complex legal and professional requirements set by the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofsted.
What we do
Compliance & Policy:
We keep schools updated on the latest statutory guidance so they don’t fall behind on legal obligations
Training & Qualifications:
We offer accredited training for Mental Health Leads—the people in schools responsible for the overall wellbeing strategy.
Support Services:
Beyond just paperwork, we provide “human” services like professional coaching, clinical supervision for staff, and even therapy.
Community:
We run a national peer support network where educators can share what’s working (and what isn’t) in their specific settings.
Who's behind AMHIE?
AMHIE was developed and is currently led by Richard Daniel Curtis, a well-known UK expert in psychology and Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH).
Why does AMHIE matter?
In the current educational climate, mental health has become a core part of how schools are inspected. Our goal is to move the conversation from “reactive” (fixing problems when they happen) to “strategic” (building a culture where students and staff thrive from the start).
The history of AMHIE.
Originally recognising a need for the training of Mental Health Aware Leadership, Richard Daniel Curtis set up the Mental Health Awareness Programme in 2018. He started developing the National Educational Leaders in Mental Health for School Leaders who passed an assessment related to their awareness of mental health ethos and culture provision.
As a result of the green paper “Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision” the government committed to providing trained mental health leads in schools. With the announcement of the mental health lead role from the Department of Education, Richard developed training for mental health leads. This in turn lead to the creation of the National Network of Mental Health Leads in 2021.
The courses became more formalised, leading to qualifications and became the core of the Network. Richard recognised that the role would be very isolating and so there was a need for continued personal development opportunities for people who were being trained as a mental health lead. This led to the Network being established as a consortium of Local Authorities and Providers across the country in order to be able to not only provide training for mental health leads but provide ongoing support, information and guidance.
As the DfE’s programme of mental health lead training progressed, the needs of the sector changed. Recognising this shift, the Committee members of the National Network of Mental Health Leads decided to open membership to a wider cohort to reflect this need. Therefore, the Association of Mental Health in Education was formally launched in 2024, representing those working in schools, colleges, universities, adult education and early years providers and giving them much needed support and guidance.
What AMHIE offers now.
Navigating the complexities of mental health policy in education is no longer a choice—it is a professional necessity. Moving with changes throughout the sector, AMHIE is now a single point of access for teams to remain fully compliant with all Department for Education (DfE) guidelines.
Our core offering has now changed so we provide the essential resources and training that allow educational professionals to confidently meet their obligations. This isn’t just about good practice; it’s about reducing risk, mitigating legal exposure, and ensuring teams have the accurate, up-to-date knowledge to make the right decisions.
We now offer a tiered membership structure to meet the diverse needs of the UK education sector with Free and Paid Membership options available providing a cost-effective, bespoke package for any team.
We have training for various roles and phases of education covering mental health lead strategy, leadership and compliance. Start your learning journey with us for a complete mental health in education package.
Our news feed is packed full of useful advice, tips, blogs and features. We keep up to date on the very latest policy, guidance and technical changes from the DfE and Ofsted for you, to save you time and give you peace of mind.
What’s next for AMHIE?
AMHIE’s mission is to move beyond simply offering resources and become the definitive authority on compliance and policy in educational mental health. Our next step is to expand our training portfolio to address the most critical and complex challenges facing the sector.
We are developing new, targeted courses to provide clear, actionable guidance on areas such as:
- Mental Health First Responder training: Equipping key staff with the skills to provide immediate, effective support in a crisis.
- Independent Buyers courses: Helping leaders and managers make informed decisions when commissioning external mental health services.
- Writing risk assessments: Providing the specific knowledge needed to create robust and legally defensible risk assessments for students and staff.
- And more!
To ensure our guidance is always ahead of the curve, we are launching the AMHIE on Air podcast, which will bring together our National Steering Group members—a collective of experienced sector professionals—and other industry leaders to discuss emerging trends and solutions. This forum will provide you with a direct line to the expertise you need to anticipate and prepare for future DfE expectations. By joining us, you’re not just getting a membership; you’re becoming part of a movement to professionalise and standardise mental health provision across the UK education sector.
Celebrating outstanding & inspirational stories from educational settings across the UK
Introducing the Mental Health in Education Awards; since 2023, organisations, services and individuals have been awarded for their relentless work toward making a difference in their communities.
The Mental Health in Education Awards are a celebration of successful interventions and support. Since 2023, organisations, services and individuals have been awarded for their relentless work toward making a difference in their communities. This award symbolises hard work and heart-felt devotion. Let us know about people and organisations who deserve to receive a Mental Health in Education Award!