Mental Health First Aid

What is the Mental Health First Aid program?

A key outcome of this program is to create a safe and healthy work environment by recognising that mental illness has a significant impact upon us, our fellow colleagues, our students and also our family members and friends.

The program aims to help raise your awareness of the early stages of mental health problems as well as give you the steps and skills necessary to provide assistance to those in your work environment and personal life.

Mental health problems are prevalent in our community with one in five people suffering from a mental illness (depression, anxiety, substance abuse, or other). Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the help given to someone developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate professional treatment is received or until the crisis resolves.

What does the program cover?

Participants will learn about the signs and symptoms of mental health problems, where and how to get help and what sort of help has been shown by research to be effective. It also provides practical strategies on how you might manage a crisis situation.

Developing mental health problems covered:

Depression
Eating Disorders
Anxiety
Psychosis
Substance misuse

Mental health crises covered:

Suicidal thoughts and behaviours
Non-suicidal self-injury
Panic attacks
Traumatic events
Severe psychotic states
Aggressive behaviours
Acute effects from alcohol or other drug misuse

What does the program involve?

This is a 12 hour program, which includes small group work, videos, games and exercises and resources to assist in developing your understanding of the impact of mental illness, recognise early warning signs and how to provide assistance. Program participants receive a copy of the MHFA Manual, a Certificate of Completion and/or Accreditation along with numerous community resources.

Who can attend?

The program is open to all staff, academic and professional, inclusive of all roles and functions and is particularly valuable for all staff who deal with students.

How do I register?

Registrations are completed through My Career Online. To view program dates, click here.

For more information

More information can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions page or on the Mental Health First Aid International website (opens in a new window).