500,000 people have taken a MHFA course in Australia and 2 million across the world. A celebration of these milestones to be held before the middle of this year. Stay tuned for details.
MHFA Program founder Betty Kitchener AM has made the decision to step down from her role as CEO for MHFA Australia. Former Deputy CEO Nataly Bovopoulos has been appointed Acting CEO.
Fortunately for the MHFA community, both nationally and internationally, Betty has not left behind her life's work. Betty is currently a consultant leading the development of the MHFA for the Older Person Program.
Betty Kitchener AM and Professor Tony Jorm, co-founders of Mental Health First Aid, attended the UNSW's Australian Mental Health Prize event. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull awarded the inaugural Australian Mental Health Prize to Kim Ryan. As we mentioned, Betty was one of seven finalists. Congratulations to Kim and thank you for your advocacy on behalf of mental health nurses.
Here is an article about Upper Hunter Community Services (UHCS) effort to deliver Mental Health First Aid programs to the whole community of students, teachers and parents at Muswellbrook High School in NSW. Learn more.
Betty Kitchener AM, founder and CEO of MHFA Australia, has been shortlisted as 1 of 7 finalists for the first Australian Mental Health Prize.
Under the banner of newly founded organisation ‘Rugby Unite’ and in partnership with the Mental Awareness Foundation, Darren Gaffney recently coordinated the second Rick Tyrrell Cup Rugby match. This included a pre match function to raise funds for Mental Health First Aid training for the Brisbane rugby community.
This year the theme for World Mental Health Day is: Dignity in Mental Health - Psychological & Mental Health First Aid for All. Mental Health First Aid teaches first aid skills in how to help someone you’re concerned about who is developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental illness or a mental health crisis.
The 4-hour Mental Health First Aid for the Suicidal Person Course is based on our revised Mental Health First Aid Guidelines for Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours. This course was launched today on World Mental Health Day.
Mental Health First Aid Australia wholeheartedly supports the position statement on marriage equality released today by Mental Health Australia. People who identify as LGBTIQ have higher rates of mental illness and suicide than the general community. Any discrimination that targets LGBTIQ people has a negative impact on their mental health. We call on the Australian Government to save the $160 million committed to holding a plebiscite on marriage equality and instead pass marriage equality laws through the Parliament. Learn more here.
The Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander MHFA Program Manager is a Melbourne based part-time position, which holds overall responsibility of the training content and development of the program currently primarily funded through grants from the Australian Government. This is an identified role.