Mental Health First Aid Course

What you'll learn

Learn how to provide effective mental health first aid with our communication short courses in Sydney!

This Mental Health First Aid course is designed to teach any adult to provide initial support to someone experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis.

One in five Australians will experience a mental health problem in any given year. In fact, mental illness is now said to affect every Australian either directly or indirectly. Mental health problems can affect anyone in the community, and inaccurate and stigmatising attitudes towards people with mental illness are common. Many people lack the knowledge, skills, and confidence to support a friend, family member or co-worker experiencing a mental health problem, including how to approach someone and start a safe conversation.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training helps mobilise and empower adults in the workplace and wider community by equipping them with the knowledge, skills and confidence to recognise, understand and respond to another adult experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis. 

Our Mental Health First Aid courses teach people simple, practical mental health first aid skills for helping to provide support for a family member, friend, co-worker or other person who is experiencing mental health problems. An MHFA course will teach you how to listen and respond to someone with a mental health problem, even in mental health crisis situations or when experiencing a mental health emergency. You’ll learn how to help someone access the support they might need for the successful management of symptoms as part of their recovery journey. This could include self-help books or websites, accessing support through their GP, their school or place of work, online self-referral, support groups, and more. What’s more, you’ll be able to actively reduce stigma in your community, by responding appropriately to myths and misunderstandings about mental illness.

The MHFA course has been developed by Mental Health First Aid Australia, a not-for-profit charity at the forefront of mental health in Australia. The course is based on guidelines developed through the expert consensus of people with lived experience of mental health problems, and mental health professionals. This MHFA course is an accredited mental health course nationwide in Australia and there is a brief exam to be completed at the end of the course to gain accreditation. Please note: you can enrol without becoming accredited if you prefer not to take the exam. 

Improve your knowledge and skills in Mental Health First Aid and make a meaningful difference to your community and those around you!

Learning Outcomes

In this Mental Health First Aid course, you'll learn to:

• Recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health conditions in adults
• Learn how to provide initial support for those suffering from depression, anxiety, psychosis, PTSD and substance use disorder
• Learn where and how to seek appropriate professional help for mental health conditions
• Learn what sort of assistance has been shown, by research, to be effective
• Learn how to provide mental health first aid in a crisis situation.
• Learn how to use an ALGEE action plan to assist anyone experiencing a mental health crisis.

Course content

What will be covered in this Mental Health First Aid course?

You'll learn to develop mental health literacy and support skills, with each weekly session covering a specific topic, and how to apply your knowledge in real-life situations:

• Day 1 Session 1: Mental Health in Australia
• Day 1 Session 2: Depression and Anxiety
• Day 2 Session 1: Anxiety and Substance Use Disorder
• Day 2 Session 2: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Intended audience

Who is this Mental Health First Aid course for?

This MHFA course is suitable for any adult who would like to provide Mental Health First Aid to a family member, friend, colleague, or stranger, and help them access the support they need for symptom management and recovery. No previous mental health first aid training is required.

This MHFA training course is also suitable for anyone who would like to provide Mental Health First Aid to support their workplace. More and more workplaces require a Mental Health Officer, who can help employees experiencing mental health issues and promote a mentally healthy workplace.

Please note: this course is not suitable for any students under the age of 18.

Course venue

Rozelle Campus

2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd on the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)

Course materials

Please bring to class

• A pen and paper (or tablet) to take notes.

Materials provided

• Comprehensive handouts (PDF) covering all the fundamentals of the course.

Additional information

Please note: this class is not a therapy or support group for those suffering with mental health issues. It is an educational course teaching students how to provide preliminary mental health first aid to others until professional help is available.

The material covered can trigger upset, and the tutor is a trained facilitator who offers several breaks and debriefs with participants if required.