Mental First Aid Course
Course Name
MHFA – Mental Health First Aid
Course Cost
$189 (may vary)
Course Duration​
12 Hours (2 Days) – Options Available
Is the course accredited?
Yes (Accredited by MHFA Australia)
Does the course meet workplace requirements?
Yes
Available Discounts
Group Booking Discounts Available
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE
Mental health first aid (MHFA) is a term regarding support provided to a person affected by a mental illness. By undertaking a mental health first aid training course and earning a nationally recognised and accredited certification, you’ll acquire the ability to recognise a person in need and be able to offer them appropriate support during challenging moments in their life.
When most people hear the term first aid, they think of treating injuries affecting the physical body. Mental health concerns, needless to say, require very different treatments from traditional first aid, but the disciplines are similar in that they both deal with supporting a person until they can receive care from a professional.
Our accredited Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course is recognised all over Australia, not just Melbourne. Not only is it essential for mental health professionals or anyone who already works as a counsellor, social worker, or support worker, it’s also beneficial for anyone interested in pursuing one of these careers. Ultimately, a mental health certificate is applicable for everybody. No matter your workplace, having a mental health officer on the team is an undeniable boon.
At the conclusion of their course, students who pass will receive a nationally recognised Mental Health First Aid Certificate. They will also be given some mental health literature in the form of a copy of Mental Health First Aid Australia’s instruction guide, which they will be able to take home with them.
What Is a Mental Health First Aid Certificate?
Almost 50% of people in Melbourne will encounter mental health struggles at some point in their lives. This could be you, a colleague, or a loved one. Regrettably, many people fail to seek help during mental health crises until pushed to do so, often because they don’t even realise that they’re in the midst of one.
By enrolling in, and successfully completing a mental health first aid training course, you’re positioning yourself to be a vital support system for those in need. It equips you with the knowledge and expertise to detect signs of a mental health crisis, provide initial assistance and encouragement, and deliver useful information. Through an effective blend of readings, guided practice, independent and group study, rounded off with a final assessment, you’ll be fully prepared to handle a mental health crisis.
Mental Health First Aid Course Content
Our curriculum utilises research findings, guidebooks, and resources from Mental Health First Aid Australia. As a result, our mental health training program is honed to provide students with the essential skills and knowledge to accurately recognise mental health issues, chart the most suitable plan of action, deliver critical support to those grappling with mental health crises, and to help them find the most accurate and pertinent information and professional assistance.
Learning Outcomes
- The basics of common mental health illnesses
- The signs, symptoms and risk factors associated with common mental health issues
- How to create and implement Mental Health First Aid action plan
- How to identify and assess a mental health crisis and when to intervene
- How to effectively communicate to someone experiencing a mental health crisis and emotionally support them until the crisis resolves
- Treatments available for different mental health conditions, and how to source and deliver relevant information on appropriate professional help to someone in need
Mental Health Conditions & Scenarios
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Psychosis
- Substance use problems, such as drugs and alcohol
- Eating disorders
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviours
- Non-suicidal self-injury
- Panic attacks
- Trauma
- Aggressive behaviours
Course Delivery
Our mental health first aid course is delivered across a total of 12 hours. This course is conducted over 2 days with a 6 hour training session on each day.
Upon successful completion of this course, all participants will be awarded a MHFA Mental Health First Aid Certificate of Completion. Students will also receive a copy of the Mental Health First Aid Manual to take home with them.
Enrolment & Eligibility
Our mental health first aid course is open to anyone aged 18 years or older. There are no prior academic requirements, work experience, or preparation required to attend.
All students need a basic understanding of written and verbal English to engage with the course materials. It also helps to have compassion, empathy, and a genuine desire to help people in need during times of crisis.
Enquire About Mental Health First Aid Course
Frequently Asked Questions
A Mental Health First Aid qualification doesn’t necessarily lead directly to specific careers. It can be applicable to any workplace and is perhaps best used to support an existing career. However, having this qualification might make you more appealing for roles where dealing with people, especially vulnerable individuals, is a key part of the job. A few careers to which such a qualification is most beneficial include:
- Mental Health Counselor
- Social Worker
- School Counselor/Teacher
- Human Resources Professional
- Emergency Service Personnel
- Healthcare Professionals
- Support Worker
- Community Outreach Worker
No. While twelve hours of training might seem like a lot of time to certain people depending on their schedule, this does not translate to difficulty. Our mental health first aid training courses are designed to be both thorough and easy to comprehend.
However, while the course itself is not generally considered to be difficult, performing the task of administering mental health first aid can be challenging to some. A mental health crisis can be an extremely confronting thing to witness. However, it is easier to recognise a mental health crisis and know how to respond than it is to see one and to feel helpless and not know what to do.
We’re proud to offer other courses which work well when combined together with a MHFA training course. The first, and perhaps the most obvious, is a Youth Mental Health First Aid course. This training overlaps with a Standard Mental Health First Aid course in some ways, but deals with mental health challenges specifically or more commonly experienced by teenagers. For someone working with young people, such as a teacher or counsellor, holding both qualifications can be extremely beneficial. We offer plenty of other training options which extend to include first aid, mental health, CPR, and many more.
Due to the challenging nature of how mental health problems can affect people, other general first aid qualifications are also useful. Among these are a basic first aid course, or a CPR course. Other first aid course options include advanced first aid and first aid for remote or isolated settings.
Yes. New discoveries and breakthroughs in how to apply mental health treatments and first aid are emerging all the time. As such, a mental health first aid certificate effectively expires after a three year period. If your job depends on holding a mental health first aid certificate, or you are your workplace’s mental health first aid officer or mental health first aider, taking refresher training is essential.
Yes, our Mental Health First Aid course is nationally accredited. This accreditation ensures that the course meets the highest standards in mental health training.
Mental Health First Aid involves learning about providing mental health support to someone experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. The course covers topics such as recognising signs and symptoms, communication strategies, and practical interventions to help individuals in need.
