1 in 5 people experience mental illness each year.  Most people are familiar with physical first aid courses, which teach the skills and knowledge needed to identify and respond to life-threatening emergencies across various situations.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training follows a similar model. Through a practical, skills-based action plan, participants learn how to recognise and respond to someone experiencing a mental health issue or crisis, providing support until professional help is available or the situation stabilises.

Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to provide initial support to other adults who may be experiencing a mental health problem or mental health 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 people with lived experience of mental health problems and professionals.

Mental health problems covered

• Depression

• Anxiety problems

• Psychosis

• Substance use problems

Mental health crises covered

• Suicidal thoughts and behaviours

• Non-suicidal self-injury

• Panic attacks

• Traumatic events

• Severe psychotic states

• Severe effects from alcohol or other drug use

• Aggressive behaviours.

This is a 12-hour course which is usually delivered as either

a 2-day training package (6 hours per day), or as 4 separate modules (3 hours each).

There is also a blended option, with an online component.

Why attend?
Evaluations consistently show that MHFA training is associated with

improved knowledge of mental illnesses, their treatments and

appropriate first aid strategies, and confidence in providing first

aid to individuals with mental illness. It is also associated with

decreased stigma and an increase in help provided.

Become accredited

Demonstrate your mental health first aid skills by becoming

an Accredited Mental Health First Aider. Complete an online

assessment after the course to become accredited.

Nil