Mental Health First Aid Australia Training
Mental health first aid is an evidence-based course giving employees the skills to support co-workers and guide them to professional help if needed.
Description
1 in 5 Australian adults experiences a mental illness in any given year, and mental ill health costs Australian workplaces $4.7 billion in absenteeism, $1.6 billion in presenteeism and $146 million in compensation claims per year. Only 22% of full-time workers with signs of common mental illness receive treatment for their mental health problems.
Mental health first aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based training course which gives your employees the skills and confidence to have supportive conversations with their co-workers and help guide them to professional help if needed. It has been shown to increase knowledge, confidence, helping behaviours, and reduce stigma. The Mental Health First Ai course is a highly interactive programme with videos, workshop exercises, group discussions and informative material content.
The MHFA course covers signs, symptoms, and evidence-based treatments for the following common conditions:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Psychotic
- Substance use problems
The MHFA course also provides first aid guidelines for the following crises situations:
- Suicidal thoughts, feelings or behaviours
- Panic attacks and Traumatic events
- Severe psychotic episodes
- Intoxication and Aggression
Key Outcomes from Training
- KNOWLEDGE - Increased mental health literacy
- CONFIDENCE - Increased confidence in providing mental health first aid
- DE-STIGMATISING - Decreased stigmatising attitudes
- SUPPORT - Increased support provided to others within the workplace
Become a Mental Health First Aider
People who attend MHFA training can complete an online assessment to be accredited for 3 years as a Mental Health First Aider. Just like appointing physical first aid officers, many organisations choose to appoint accredited Mental Health First Aiders to the role of MHFA officer within the workplace.