Standard Mental Health First Aid

The Standard Mental Health First Aid course teaches participants how to provide initial support to another adult who may be experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis, until professional help is received or the crisis resolves.

Course participants learn about the signs and symptoms of common mental health problems in adults, how to recognise and respond to an emerging or worsening mental health problem and the treatments and supports available.

Using a practical, evidence-based action plan, course participants learn how to approach someone they are concerned about and initiate a conversation about those concerns. Participants also learn how to offer initial support and information and how to encourage the person to seek professional help or other supports.

Adults who complete the course become Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAiders), equipped with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to provide someone with mental health information and support when it matters most.

Standard Mental Health First Aid courses delivered in blended formats include some eLearning materials tailored to either workplaces or community settings. Participants can select their preferred setting when organising Blended Online or Blended Face-to-Face delivery of this course. 

What you’ll learn

Learn how to apply mental health first aid to adults across a range of common mental health problems and crisis situations, including:

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Psychosis

  • Substance use problems

  • Suicidal thoughts and behaviours

  • Panic attacks

  • Non suicidal self-injury

Delivery Format

  • Face-to-Face

  • Blended Face-to-Face

  • Blended Online

  • Evidence-based: All Mental Health First Aid courses are based on guidelines that are informed by people with lived experience, their caregivers, and mental health professionals.

    Rigorously evaluated: Evaluations consistently show that Mental Health First Aid training improves participants’ knowledge of mental illnesses and their treatments, and confidence in providing mental health first aid to individuals.

    Skills-based: Teaches the practical skills, knowledge, and confidence to make a difference.

    Internationally recognised: Over 6 million people trained in Mental Health First Aid across 25 countries.

  • Upon completion of this course participants
    will be able to:

    Recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health problems in adults

    Use an evidence-based action plan to initiate a mental health first aid conversation

    Know the barriers to help-seeking and how to overcome these

    Assess for a range of crisis situations and provide initial support

    Understand the prevalence and impact of mental illnesses, risk factors and treatments and supports available

    Apply self-care practices as a Mental Health First Aider

  • Suitable for individuals, workplaces of all sizes and volunteer and community-based groups.

    Any adult (aged 18+) can attend.

  • This course covers common and disabling mental health problems and crisis situations. Participants learn how to apply mental health first aid to adults across a range of situations, including:

    Depression
    Anxiety
    Psychosis
    Substance use problems
    Suicidal thoughts and behaviours
    Panic attacks
    Non-suicidal self-injury
    Traumatic events

  • The 12-hour course can be delivered in 1 of 3 ways:

    Face-to-face:  2 x 6-hour sessions over 2 days
    Blended Face-to-Face:  Self-paced eLearning (5-7 hours), followed by a 4-hour face-to-face session
    Blended Online: Self-paced eLearning (5-7 hours), followed by 2 x 2.5-hour videoconferencing sessions

    All sessions are led by an MHFA trained and Licensed Instructor.

    The blended delivery formats of this course include eLearning materials tailored to either workplaces (supporting staff or a co-worker) or community settings (supporting adults in all other settings). Please choose the most appropriate setting if registering for either Blended Face-to-Face or Blended Online course delivery.

  • You can complete the short assessment at the end of a course to become an Accredited Mental Health First Aider (MHFAider).

    Accreditations are valid for 3 years.

This course is recognised by Suicide Prevention Australia as a safe, high-quality, and effective suicide prevention program. Learn more.