Mental Health First Aid training course

Mental Health First Aid logoSuitable clinical staff working outside of the mental health sector or anyone with limited mental health knowledge

2 day course 

Facilitated by SA Mental Health Training Centre. See the Mental health training calendar page for workshop dates.

Whilst people often know a lot about common physical health problems, there is widespread ignorance of mental health. Regular first aid courses are recognised as improving the public's skills in giving initial and appropriate help at medical emergencies but, unfortunately, most of these courses do not address helping with mental health problems.

However, mental health problems are common. In Australia, approximately one in five adults will experience mental illness in any given year. In light of this, all members of the community can expect to have close contact with someone experiencing a mental illness.

Lack of knowledge and stigmatising attitudes about mental illness may prevent people from seeking help early, seeking the best sort of help and also providing appropriate support to colleagues and family members, simply because they do not know how.

Please note this course is not a therapy or support group, rather it is an education course to learn how to give first aid to others. Any interested adult can attend.

Workshop aims

Teaches adults (18 years and over) how to provide initial support to adults who are developing a mental illness or experiencing a mental health crisis.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points

Most professionals can claim attendance at a Mental Health First Aid course for CPD with their industry body.

Workshop outcomes

Course participants learn about the signs and symptoms of the common and disabling mental health problems, how to provide initial help, where and how to get professional help, what sort of help has been shown by research to be effective, and how to provide first aid in a crisis situation.

Topics covered

Topics covered include: 

  • depression
  • anxiety problems
  • psychosis
  • substance use problems

Mental health crisis situations covered

Mental health crisis situations covered include:

  • suicidal thoughts and behaviours
  • non-suicidal self-injury
  • panic attacks
  • traumatic events
  • severe effects of drug or alcohol use
  • severe psychotic states
  • aggressive behaviours

Please note this course is not a therapy or support group, rather it is an education course to learn how to give first aid to others. Any interested adult can attend.