MHFA CORE COURSES
Standard Mental Health First Aid
Course overview
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.
Common points of interest:
The Youth MHFA course follows a similar structure, however, the Youth variant explores topics in extended detail and unlike the Standard course, it also covers eating disorders, non-suicidal self-injury and suicide in more particular detail. The standard course does however spend more time looking at substance use.
Although Youth MHFA’s focus is on adolescence the skills and information taught through the course can also be applied to adults. We would in most circumstances, therefore, recommend where there is a mixture of interaction between adults and young people, that organisations consider engaging with the youth variant.
Course Structure
& Inclusions:
At BLLC we pride ourselves on working with each organisation to find and create the perfect structure for course delivery.
This is a 12-hour course, which typically is delivered on client site as either:
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A 2 days -back to back
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As 2 days -split
Course participants
will receive:
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The highest leave of professional accredited facilitation
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A copy of the most current Standard MHFA Manual
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Additional industry-relevant supplement manuals and resources- where required
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Registration and management of accreditation for all participants- including tracking of 3-year refresher requirements for full MHFA courses
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Ongoing post-training support and MHFA counselling for MHFA officers
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A Certificate of Completion &/or accreditation
Developing mental health problems covered:
• Depression
• Anxiety problems
• Psychosis
• Substance use problems
Mental health crisis situations covered:
• Suicidal thoughts and behaviours
• Non-suicidal self-injury (sometimes called deliberate self-harm)
• Panic attacks
• Traumatic events
• Severe effects of drug or alcohol use
• Severe psychotic states
• Aggressive behaviours
What can your team expect from this nationally recognised accreditation?
Participants are equipped with correct knowledge and appropriate tools to handle crisis situations within an emotionally sensitive and legally appropriate manner.
A reduction in staff and clients arriving at a crisis point undetected.
A clear and consistent protocol to ensure the emotional and physical wellbeing of staff and clients.
Pressure on welfare officers and team leaders is reduced by having fellow adults correctly identifying and referring people in need.
Improved personal mental health of participants & reduction of stigmatic attitudes.
Confidence in providing mental health first aid alongside increased support shown to co-workers.
Who can enroll
Yes, any interested adult can attend. The purpose of this course is to help parents, professionals, social workers, and other concerned adults to better support others in our communities. Early intervention is key to risk minimisation and the underpinning element upholding a duty of care requirement.
It’s also important to know that there is no prerequisite level of study or work to attend, just as there is no restriction on attending a traditional physical first aid course.
With that in mind, please don’t consider this course to be a therapy or support group session. MHFA is an intensive training program to learn how to offer mental first aid to others and understand self-care in more detail. Due to the nature of the content covered it is not recommended for those not feeling emotionally resilient, otherwise any interested adult can attend.
Accreditation & CPD Points
On completion of the course, participates are asked to complete a short online exam, open-book online of approx 15 questions. Upon passing participates will receive their Mental Health First Aiders Certificate which is valid for 3 years.
Renewal requires a short refresher course (just as a traditional first-aid certificate operates) and will be monitored and managed by BLLC.
If participants do not wish to complete the exam they are presented with a certificate of completion with CPD points awarded regardless of exam completion.
Most professionals can claim attendance towards Continuing Professional Development (CPD) within their industry body. Please check with your relevant industry body or BLLC if you are unsure of allocation points.
Below is a sample of industries that award registered or self-appointed CPD points/hours.
This list is by no means exhausted:
• Psychologists
• Social Workers
• Teachers
• Dietitians
• Speech Pathologists
• Audiologists and Audiometrists
• Lawyers in some states and territories of Australia
• Orthotists and Prosthetists