Standard Mental Health First Aid

The 12-hour Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course teaches adults (18 years and over) how to provide initial support to adults who are developing a mental illness or experiencing a mental health crisis.

This course is delivered over 2-days.

For those wanting to become re-accredited, check out our Standard MHFA refresher course here

The Mental Health First Aid Training Course is delivered by Jen Ince, a qualified and passionate MHFA instructor

Why Mental Health First Aid?

​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 (e.g., the person is suicidal or has had a traumatic experience). Like physical first aid, mental health first aid is given until the person receives professional help or until the crisis resolves.

Mental health first aid strategies are taught in evidence-based training courses authored by Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Australia and delivered by accredited MHFA Instructors across the country. Intrinsic Mind offers a variety of MHFA Courses as authored by MHFA Australia, delivered by Instructors who are currently accredited by MHFA Australia.

MHFA is an award-winning program and is included in SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidenced-Based Programs and Practices

Evaluations consistently show that MHFA training is associated with improved knowledge of mental illnesses, their treatments and appropriate first aid strategies, and confidence in providing first aid to individuals with mental illness. It is also associated with decreased stigma and an increase in help provided over time.

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.

Developing mental health problems covered are:

• Depression
• Anxiety problems
• Psychosis
• Substance use problems

Mental health crisis situations covered are:

• 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

All MHFA Courses teach how to give the mental health first aid using the MHFA Action Plan ALGEE.

A manual is provided to each participant attending this 12-hour MHFA course and participants who complete this training are eligible to complete an online Accreditation Assessment in order to receive a Mental Health First Aider Certificate of Accreditation valid for 3 years.