Mental health first aid is the help provided to a person who is developing a mental health problem, or who is in a mental health crisis, until appropriate professional treatment is received or the crisis resolves. Mental health first aid strategies are taught in evidence-based training programs authored by Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Australia and conducted by MHFA Instructors across Australia.

The Youth Mental Health First Aid Course is for adults working or living with adolescents (those aged between 12 and 18 years), however, the course can be relevant for those helping people who are a little younger or older. This course is particularly suitable for parents, teachers, sports coaches, and youth workers.

Joseph is a Master Instructor of the Youth Mental Health First Aid course. Please enquire directly if you would like a Youth Mental Health First Aid training course run for the staff or a group of adults in your organisation or school.

What the course covers:

The course teaches adults how to assist adolescents who are developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. Course participants learn about adolescent development, the signs and symptoms of the common and disabling mental health problems in young people, where and how to get help when a young person is developing a mental illness, what sort of help has been shown by research to be effective, and how to provide first aid in a crisis situation.

The developing mental health problems covered are:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Psychosis
• Eating disorders
• Substance misuse

The mental health crisis situations covered are:

• Suicidal thoughts and behaviours
• Non-suicidal self-injury (sometimes called self-harm)
• Panic attacks
• Traumatic events
• Acute effects of drug or alcohol use
• Severe psychotic states

More information about what Mental Health First Aid courses teach here.

Format

This is a 14 hour course, which can be delivered as either:

• A 2-day training package (7 hours per day), OR
• As 4 Separate modules (3.5 hours each)

Course participants receive a copy of the Youth MHFA Manual to keep and a Certificate of Completion.

Youth MHFA Manual

A manual is provided to each participant attending this 14-hour MHFA course. This Youth MHFA manual can also be purchased online at the MHFA Shop.

Who can attend a course?

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

Evidence-Based

The Youth MHFA course is included in SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidenced-Based Programs and Practices. To find out more about the research base Click HERE.