Program Overview
The Mental Health First Aid Program
In order to help people provide initial support for someone with a mental health problem, the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training course has been developed. In 2000, Betty Kitchener and Professor Tony Jorm began writing a MHFA manual and an accompanying course, with the aim to improve the mental health literacy of members of the Australian community. Since then, the MHFA Training and Research Program has been developed, evaluated and disseminated nationally and internationally. This Program includes a 5-day Instructor Training Course to accredit suitable candidates to become MHFA Instructors who deliver the 12-hour MHFA course to their communities. This 12-hour course is designed to give members of the public some skills to help someone developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis situation. The philosophy behind the course is that mental health crises, such as suicidal and self-harming actions, may be avoided through early intervention with people developing mental disorders. If crises do arise, then members of the public can take action to reduce the harms that could result.
Participants of the 12-hour MHFA course receive a course manual and also a certificate at the completion of the course. Those who have completed the course have been very positive about the knowledge and skills they have acquired. Course participants have been very varied, including teachers, police, nurses, case managers, support workers, social welfare staff, employment agency staff, personnel staff, members of the general public and staff of many Australian and local government departments.
The MHFA course has been thoroughly evaluated using randomized controlled trials and a qualitative study and been found to be effective at improving the course participants’ knowledge of mental disorders, reducing stigma, and increasing the amount of help provided to others. To disseminate the course, MHFA Instructors are trained from across Australia, to conduct the 12-hour MHFA course autonomously in their local region. Instructors work for NGOs (e.g. Red Cross, Lifeline, Anglicare), social welfare services (e.g. employment, housing) local area health services, places of employment, or as private practitioners. In view of the innovation and quality of the Program, it has won a TheMHS first prize and has spread to a number of other countries, including Scotland, Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The MHFA program has begun to develop specialised MHFA courses. In early 2005, three culturally and linguistically modified MHFA courses were launched for Croatian, Vietnamese and Italian communities in Australia. In early 2007, two more specialised MHFA courses will be launched:
- an aboriginal MHFA course for urban and rural aboriginal community members, and
- a MHFA with Adolescents course suitable for adults working with adolescents.
Since April 2005, the MHFA Program has been auspiced by ORYGEN Research Centre at the University of Melbourne.
For more information download the Program Summary:
Program Summary PDF (57KB) (Opens in new window).