Mental Health First Aid Training

Introduction to Mental Health First Aid Courses 

Around 1 in 5 Australian adults experience a common mental illness each year. Understanding how to talk about mental health and help someone in need are important skills. Many people feel uncomfortable and unprepared when thinking about starting a conversation with someone they are concerned about. At a Mental Health First Aid course, you will learn how to recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health problems and learn the skills to feel confident and able to help. Having mental health first aid skills means that you can assist someone developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis and make a real difference to your community. 


Evidence based courses

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses are based on evidence of what is best practice mental health first aid to support someone who has a mental health problem or is experiencing a mental health crisis. This evidence has been developed in partnership with the University of Melbourne, through developing Delphi method guidelines that cover a number of mental health problems, crises and in different contexts. All MHFA courses are then evaluated, using rigorous scientific methods, to ensure they are having a positive impact. These evaluations consistently show that MHFA training is associated with improved knowledge of mental illnesses and their treatments, knowledge of appropriate first aid strategies, and confidence in providing first aid to individuals with mental illness, benefits which are maintained over time. Some studies have also shown improved mental health in those who attend the training, decreases in stigmatising attitudes and increases in the amount and type of support provided to others. 

Statistics around Mental Health in the Workplace 

1 in 5 Australian adults experiences a mental illness in any given year. Mental ill health costs Australian workplaces $4.7 billion in absenteeism, $1.6 billion in presenteeism and $146 million in compensation claims per year. Only 22% of full-time workers with signs of common mental illness receive treatment for their mental health problems. 

Courses we offer:



The 2 day Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid course teaches any adult (18 years and over) how to provide initial support to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person experiencing a mental health problem or crisis. Learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health problems in communities, how to provide initial help, where and how to get professional help, and how to provide first aid in a crisis situation. 


The 2 day Youth Mental Health First Aid course teaches any adult (18 years and over) how to provide initial support to adolescents experiencing a mental health problem or crisis. Learn about the signs and symptoms of common mental health problems in young people, 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. 



The Blended Youth Mental Health First Aid Course will teach you how to assist adolescents who may be experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves, using a practical, evidence based Action Plan. 


The Blended Online Mental Health First Aid Tertiary Course will teach you how to provide initial support to fellow students who may be experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves, using a practical, evidence based Action Plan. 

The Teen Mental Health First Aid course is for high school students in Years 7-9 and 10-12. Students will learn how to provide mental health first aid to their friends. 

This course is taught over 3 x 90-minute classroom sessions on non-consecutive days. The course can only be taught in settings where adults have been trained in Youth MHFA. 

Research with high school students who receive tMHFA students report reduced stigma, increased confidence in supporting a peer with a mental health problem and are also able to recognise certain adults as helpful to a peer with a mental health problem 

3 years accreditated training

When you complete an MHFA Course, you have the opportunity to complete an online Accreditation Assessment. If you pass the Assessment, you will become an Accredited MHFAider and be issued a digital Certificate of Accreditation by MHFA Australia, valid for 3 years.

Mental Health First Aid training enquires, email - admin@jamf.com.au