World-leading MHFA training for health professional students
Equipping health professional students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to recognise, understand, and respond to a peer or another adult experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis.
Early Mental Health Risks
75% of all mental health problems emerge before the age of 24.
Student Burnout
Health professional students are more prone to fatigue, burnout and psychological distress.
Supporting Our Future Health Workforce
Recent research highlights the need for mental health first aid for medical and health professional students.
About the training
Health professional students are at heightened risk of mental health issues, facing stresses during their studies and learning in high pressure clinical settings. Without intervention, this can lead to significant psychological distress.
Specifically designed for medical students, nurses, midwives, and allied health professional students, the fully funded evidence-based online training course teaches students how to recognise early signs of a mental health problem and provides practical skills to keep themselves and peers safe.
Training includes:
✓ Real-world experiences of health professional students
✓ Contextualised content
✓ Advanced learning pathways – students who participate in the program can choose to complete the subsequent facilitated training, to get MHFAI accreditation lasting three years.
INTERVENE EARLY
Recognise the warning signs of mental health problems in another student or adult.
OFFER SUPPORT
Learn the skills to speak openly and accurately about mental health.
RESPOND IN A CRISIS
Respond across a range of crisis situations where another student or adult may be at risk.
REDUCE STIGMA
Reduce stigma and increase support for adults experiencing and living with mental health problems.
“Health professional students themselves can be at heightened risk of mental health issues, facing stresses during their studies and learning in high pressure clinical settings.
Being able to recognise the signs that either they or a friend or colleague might be struggling and in need of help and support, and knowing how to access that, is vital and can make all the difference.”
President of Medical Deans, Professor Michelle Leech AM
Our impact
Since launching in May 2024:
10,000
health professional students enrolled
3000
medical, nursing and allied health students trained
100
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students trained
After completing the online training, students report:
- 78% feel more confident in initiating a mental health first aid conversation with a peer who has signs of a mental health problem 78%
- 93% have high confidence seeking professional help for their own mental health 93%
- 92% have high confidence seeking help from trusted friends or family for their own mental health 92%
- 96% believe that a person with a mental illness can be successful professionally 96%
- 96% would recommend the training to others 96%
Completing MHFA training gave me greater insight into the stigma around mental health problems and knowledge that has assisted me personally and will continue to do so in my future career and life.
Medical student, Griffith University
I found the mental health first aid crucial. It has helped me with one particular situation in my own life already, and I feel I wouldn’t be alone. I also feel it’ll be even more useful when we’re in the hospital.
Year 1 Medical Student.
We are an at risk population and I think it helped remove stigma in the group I did it with. I also think the tools will be very useful in our future practice. I know of several students (including myself) that have used these skills.
Year 1 medical student
As a clinical academic with responsibility for student self care, MHFA is an excellent resource for medical students to develop their skills in managing their own and others mental health problems, nothing else comes even close to it.
Associate Professor
Help save lives
Join over 1.3 million Australians and expand our circle of safety.
I am a health professional student and wish to know more
Get in touch with your University to enquire about this unique training opportunity.
I am a council, university or TAFE wanting to upskill students
If you would like to know know more about our tertiary-based programs for your council, university or TAFE, please email us.
A funded collaboration
Funded by the Australian Government through a $6.7 million grant, this new MHFA program is led by the three Council of Deans (the Australian Council of Deans of Health Sciences, the Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery, and Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand). Federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride officially launched the landmark project in September 2024, which aims to reach more than 115,000 students over the next four years.
Why MHFA?
As a respected global leader of mental health first aid education, we have inspired an international movement that has seen our programs adopted in 29 countries, with more than 7 million people now trained worldwide.
29 countries
delivering our program
7 million+ people
trained worldwide
1.3 million+ people
trained in Australia
65,000+
Licensed Instructors in our global network
4,000+
Licensed Instructors nationwide
