About 1 in 5 Australian adults experience a common mental illness each year. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training will teach you practical skills to support someone with a mental health problem. Make a real difference to people in your community.

What is covered in Mental Health First Aid?

The Standard Mental Health First Aid course will teach 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.

Note: This course is not a therapy or a support group.

Learn Practical First Aid Skills

• Recognise common mental health problems
• Provide initial help using a practical, evidence-based Action Plan
• Seek appropriate professional help, and
• Respond in a crisis situation

Award Winning

MHFA is an award-winning course in your marketing materials and is included in SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidenced-Based Programs and Practices.

Why attend Mental Health First Aid?

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.

Delivery Format

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).

A blended online course is available upon request.  The blended online course requires a mixture of self paced learning and 2 x 2.5 online sessions with your MHFA Facilitator.

Accreditation

Professional Endorsement

Australian College of Nursing

This Standard MHFA course is endorsed by ACN according to their Continuing Professional Development Endorsed Course Standards. It has been allocated CPD hours according to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia – Continuing Professional Development Standard.

Australian College of Mental Health Nurses

Successful completion of the Standard MHFA course earns 12 ACMHN continuing professional education (CPE) points.

Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association 

Activity has been endorsed by APNA according to approved quality standards criteria. Completion of this educational activity entitles eligible participants to claim up to 12 CPD hours.

Important note:  Participants who wish to claim CPD points will need to keep a record of attendance, so please advise them to save their digital Certificate of Accreditation (or Certificate of Completion).