The ALGEE/ALGES Action Plan in Mental Health First Aid: A Guide
By Rachel Urbas | Certified MHFA Instructor & Psychoeducational Facilitator > Fact-checked & Updated: April 2026
When someone is in a mental health crisis, every second counts—but knowing exactly what to say can be terrifying. Whether you’re a manager, a parent, or a friend, the ALGES Action Plan is your 5-step roadmap to providing life-saving support.
Understanding how to navigate these moments is the core of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA).
The ALGEE (known as ALGES in Canada) action plan was co-founded by two principal figures: Betty Kitchener, a nurse and health education instructor, and Professor Anthony Jorm, a respected mental health literacy researcher.
Their shared goal was to improve the public’s mental health literacy—the knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders—and equip ordinary citizens with the skills to provide initial support, thereby helping to reduce the pervasive stigma surrounding mental illness.
What is the ALGEE Action Plan?
The acronym ALGEE represents the structured, five-step action plan used in the MHFA training program. It's a simple, memorable guide designed for non-experts to offer initial support during a mental health challenge or crisis until professional help can be engaged.
The five actionable steps of the ALGEE plan are:
Assess for risk of suicide or harm.
Listen non-judgementally.
Give reassurance and information.
Encourage appropriate professional help.
Encourage self-help and other support strategies.
Canadian Adaptation: The ALGES Action Plan
While the core principles remain the same, the MHFA Action Plan has been adapted for use in Canada. The Canadian version, known as ALGES, streamlines the support steps while placing a greater emphasis on the self-care of the Mental Health First Aider.
This structure integrates the two "Encourage" steps into a single category (E) and formally recognizes self-care for the First-Aider (S) as a mandatory component of the action plan for every MHFAider.
ALGES Mental Health Action Plan Guide
-
Approach, assess, assist
Identify critical warning signs and evaluate safety immediacy.
-
Listen Non-Judgmentally
Build rapport and trust without jumping to fixes.
-
Give Reassurance and Information
Provide evidence-based emotional support and recovery facts.
-
Encourage Professional Support
Guide toward medical, clinical, or occupational resources.
-
Self-Care for the First Aider
Prioritize your own mental health through intentional self-care and professional debriefing after an intervention.
How to Support a Person in Crisis: The ALGES Approach
ALGES is specifically designed for use by non-experts who have completed Mental Health First Aid training. Mental Health First Aiders, come from every walk of life, including:
Friends and Family Members: To support loved ones.
Colleagues and Managers: To assist co-workers in the workplace.
Teachers, Coaches, and Youth Leaders: To support students and young people.
Community Members and Volunteers: To provide immediate support in public settings.
It’s designed for use in both crisis situations (like suicidal thoughts or panic attacks) and non-crisis situations (like noticing the early signs of depression or anxiety).
The Actionable Steps of ALGES
The five steps provide a framework for supportive and safe intervention:
This is the foundational step that determines if the person is in immediate danger, if the environment is suitable, and what kind of support they require.
This step emphasizes creating a safe, confidential space where the person feels heard and involves observing cues.
Once the person feels heard, offer emotional support and relevant facts to help stabilize the situation.
Focus on linking the person to long-term support, including professional, self-management, and social networks.
Protecting the responder is as vital as supporting the individual in distress.
ALGES pairs seamlessly with frameworks like The Mental Health Continuum. While ALGES gives you the steps to take, the Continuum provides an objective lens to observe where someone is functioning—from Healthy to Ill—based on observable signs.
Deep Dive: How to Use the Continuum Model →
Once you've used the Continuum to assess the change in their state, the ALGES gives you the immediate, actionable steps (Listen, Give Reassurance, Encourage) required to provide support tailored to that observed need. This combination ensures a supportive, objective approach from assessment through to action.
Foundational Research: The Psychology Behind ALGEE
The MHFA step of encouraging help is a direct implementation of these empirical findings. ALGES leverages proven protective factors—social connection and clinical intervention—to stabilize the person's situation and counteract the isolation that often accompanies mental distress. The effectiveness of ALGES is rooted in key psychological principles:
Person-Centred ('L')
Non-judgmental listening models the core conditions identified by Carl Rogers:
“Accurate Empathy, Unconditional Positive Regard (UPR), and Congruence (Genuineness).”
This approach is essential for validating the person's distress and reducing shame.
See: Rogers, C. R. (1957). The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic personality change.
Self-Regulation ('A')
An MHFAider's capacity to help is linked to their own emotional intelligence (EI). By assessing themselves, they ensure they are regulated enough to use adaptive coping strategies, rather than projecting their own stress onto the situation.
The Stress-Buffering Hypothesis ('EE')
Encouraging social support and self-help is scientifically backed, as social support acts as a powerful buffer against psychological distress, directly countering feelings of isolation and activating the person's ability to cope.
See:Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis.
The ALGES model is empirically proven because its five steps are direct, practical applications of core psychological principles, each formally defined and validated by major figures in therapeutic science.
Evidence of Impact on the Mental Health First Aider
Extensive research, often conducted through systematic reviews, consistently shows that MHFA training utilizing the ALGES framework is highly effective in improving outcomes for the person providing support:
Increased Mental Health Literacy: Trainees show significant improvement in their ability to recognize symptoms of mental health problems and crises.
Enhanced Confidence and Intentions to Help: First Aiders report markedly higher confidence in assisting someone in distress, and they show a stronger intention to offer support using the ALGES steps.
Observed Helping Behaviour: Studies have found evidence that MHFA trainees apply the principles of the five-step ALGES approach in real-life helping situations, often acting with less stigma than they would have before the training.
to Intervene
Reduction
Evidence of Impact on the Recipient (The Person in Need)
While research on the direct, long-term impact on the recipient’s recovery is more complex, the consensus is clear:
Crucial Bridge to Care: The immediate, non-judgmental support provided through ALGES is essential for de-escalation and safety in a crisis. The framework is powerful because it simultaneously reduces shame through non-judgmental support and provides a practical pathway directly to professional care, acting as a lifeline when the person needs it most.
Supporting Capacity: The evidence confirms that MHFA and the ALGES action plan successfully build mental health capacity and preparedness within communities and workplaces, empowering non-professionals to act as reliable first responders.
Your community needs First Aiders.
You now have a better understanding of the theory behind ALGES—the five-step plan proven to provide compassionate, non-judgmental support in a crisis. But theory alone isn't enough. The next step is completing a certified Mental Health First Aid course to gain the confidence and clarity needed to act in real-life situations.
Looking to build a more resilient and supportive team?
See exactly how MHFA can transform your workplace culture, reduce presenteeism, and equip your staff with vital skills in our Ultimate Guide to Workplace MHFA.
Do you support youth?
We offer specialized Mental Health First Aid training for adults supporting youth that is valuable for parents, teachers and youth workers.
Mental Health First Aid: Frequently Asked Questions
ALGES is the adapted standard used in Canada to prioritize the responder's longevity. It condenses the 'Encourage Support' steps into one to make room for a dedicated 5th step: Self-Care for the First Aider. This ensures that the person providing support monitors their own mental health and prevents burnout after an intervention.
Yes. While 'Assess' is usually the foundational first step to ensure safety, the framework is flexible. Often, you will find yourself listening non-judgmentally and giving reassurance simultaneously depending on the urgency of the situation.
No. Much like physical first aid (CPR), ALGES is designed for everyday people—managers, colleagues, and friends—to provide initial support until professional help can be reached.
