Standard Mental
Health First Aid
Equips adults with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to recognise, understand and respond to a friend, family member, co-worker, or another adult, experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis.
INTERVENE EARLY
Recognise the warning signs of mental health problems in other adults.
OFFER SUPPORT
Learn the skills to have an open, supportive conversation about mental health.
RESPOND IN A CRISIS
Respond across a range of crisis situations where an adult may be at risk of harm.
REDUCE STIGMA
Reduce stigma and increase support for adults experiencing and living with mental health problems.
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.
This course is recognised by Suicide Prevention Australia as a safe, high-quality, and effective suicide prevention program. Learn more.
Watch this short video to learn more about our course.
Course information
Delivery format
Face-to-Face
Blended Face-to-Face
Blended Online
Duration
12 hours
Take the next step
For individuals or small groups
For larger groups
Are you a member of the veteran community?
Funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, we are currently offering this course for free to members of the veteran community aged 18+.
Why MHFA?
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.
Learning Outcomes
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
Suitability
Suitable for individuals, workplaces of all sizes and volunteer and community-based groups.
Any adult (aged 18+) can attend.
Course Content
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
Duration & Format
The 12-hour course can be delivered in 1 of 3 ways:
Face-to-face: 2 x 6-hour sessions over 2 daysBlended Face-to-Face: Self-paced eLearning (5-7 hours), followed by a 4-hour face-to-face sessionBlended 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.
Accreditation
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.
Course Fees
Mental Health First Aid Australia does not employ the Instructors that it trains and licenses. Therefore, each Licensed MHFA Instructor has the autonomy and flexibility to set their own course fees. Course fees do vary for many reasons which can include course type, individual Instructor qualifications and credentials, course venue, course location (metropolitan vs regional locations), course catering and any course participant subsidies that may be available as a result of a community grant.
One of the most engaging and informative learning opportunities I’ve ever had. Opportunities to use the skills learnt were also common and relevant.
Excellent – a course that as many people as possible should be doing. Should be mandatory in all workplaces to have mental health officers.
I enjoyed learning the skills to be an MHFAider. The content was interesting and the facilitators made me feel at ease, even with the more sensitive content.
