Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

Course Duration

8.30am to 4.30pm (two days)

Course Overview

Mental Health First Aid is the only internationally recognised mental health training program for workplaces. Participants will acquire knowledge and strategies to improve the confidence and skill to offer help to someone showing the signs and symptoms of a development mental health problem or a mental health crisis. MHFA has evolved into a global movement across Australia and in over 27 countries build a proactive and supportive mental health culture in the workplace.

Course Content

Welcome and Overview

• Setting the context
• Definitions and prevalence
• Mentally illnesses
• Risk factors, prevalence, and impact
• Mental Health First Aid Action Plan

Crisis First Aid

• Depression – Signs and Symptoms & interventions
• MHFA actions for depression when there is no crisis
• Crisis first aid for suicidal thoughts and behaviours
• Anxiety problems – Signs and symptoms & interventions
• MHFA actions for Anxiety when there is no crisis
• Crisis first aid for panic attacks
• Crisis first aid after a traumatic event
• Psychosis – Signs and symptoms & interventions
• MHFA actions for psychosis when there is no crisis
• Crisis first aid for severe psychotic states

Please note this course is delivered by a qualified Lifeline WA mental health trainer. If you are in crisis, please call or text Lifeline:

Lifeline: 13 11 14
Text: 0477 131 114
24 hours a day / 7 days a week

• Knowledge – increase mental health literacy
• De-stigmatising – decreasing stigmatising attitudes
• Confidence – increase confidence in providing mental health first aid
• Support – increase the support provided to others
• Learn to recognise common mental health problems, how to provide initial help to someone experiencing a mental health problem using a practical, evidence-based Action Plan, and how to respond in a crisis situation.
  Topics Include:
  ▪  Depression
  ▪  Anxiety
  ▪  Substance Use Disorders
  ▪  Psychosis
  ▪  Thoughts of suicide
  ▪  Panic attack
  ▪  After a traumatic event
  ▪  De-escalating aggressive behaviours

This course requires no previous training or experience.