Youth Mental Health First Aid

The 14-hour Youth MHFA Course is a 14-hour course has been developed for adults working or living with adolescents.

This specialist course was developed in response to the following:

• Mental illnesses frequently first arise in adolescence and young

adulthood.

• Young people have poorer knowledge about mental illness and how

to get professional help.

• They are particularly likely to initially need support from adults to

get appropriate help.

Course content

The course covers the MHFA Action Plan and the following crisis

situations and mental illnesses.

Crisis Situations covered are:

• Suicidal behaviours

• Self-harm

• Acute stress reaction

• Panic attacks

• Acute psychotic behaviour

Mental health problems covered are:

• Depression

• Anxiety disorders

• Psychosis

• Substance use disorders

• Eating disorders

Participants learn the signs and symptoms of these mental health

problems, where and how to get help and what sort of help has been

shown by research to be effective.

The Mental Health First Aid Action Plan:

1. Assess the risk of suicide or harm

2. Listen non-judgementally

3. Give reassurance and information

4. Encourage the young person to get appropriate

professional help

5. Encourage self-help strategies

Course format

This 14 hour course can be delivered in either

• a 2 day training package (7 hours per day)

• as 4 separate modules (3.5 hours each)

Participants receive a copy of the Youth MHFA manual to keep.

Cost of the course:   $150 per person (inclusive of GST)