Each year 1 in 5 Australian adults experience a common mental health challenge.
Being equipped with mental health first aid skills will enable you to support a friend, family member or co-worker, when they are developing a mental health challenge or are in a mental health crisis.
You can make a real difference in a person’s life – you could even save their life.
The Mental Health First Aid program has been licensed by organisations all over the world. Over 2.6 million people have been trained, with tens of thousands becoming a Mental Health First Aider every year.
What is the Mental Health First Aid course?
You will learn how to assist someone who may be experiencing a mental health
challenge or be in a state of crisis until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves, using a practical, evidence-based action plan.
This course is based on guidelines developed through the expert consensus of
professionals and people with lived experienced of mental health challenges.
You will learn about:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Non-suicidal self-injury
- Panic attacks
- Traumatic events
- Severe psychotic states
- Severe effects from alcohol or other drug use
- Aggressive behaviours
Course format and cost
The Blended Online Mental Health First Aid course is delivered as two components.
Component 1: A self-paced interactive eLearning course of 5-7 hours that presents an overview of mental health problems and mental health crises.
Component 2: Two instructor-led video conferencing sessions of 2.5 hours. Provides an opportunity for participants to revise and consolidate content covered in the first component and develop practical skills in an online group environment.
Cost: $220 (incl. GST) per participant
Who can attend: Adults aged 18 years and over.
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) teaches adults how to provide Mental Health First Aid to adolescents.
Mental illnesses often start in adolescence or early adulthood and it is important to detect problems early to ensure the young person is properly treated and supported. The YMHFA course teaches adults who have frequent contact with adolescents, such as parents, guardians, school staff, sport coaches and youth workers, how to assist adolescents who are developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of a mental health problem.
Course format and cost
Course format: This is a 14-hour course. The delivery format is flexible. Course participants receive a copy of the YMHFA Manual to keep and are eligible to become an accredited Mental Health First Aider.
Cost: Available upon request
Who can attend: Any interested adult, particularly those who work or live with young people.
