What is a Mental Health First Aider (MHFAider)?
What is a Mental Health First Aider?
Mental Health First Aiders, or MHFAiders, have completed an accredited Mental Health First Aid course. They are equipped with the practical skills and confidence to recognise, understand, and respond to someone experiencing a mental health problem or crisis.
What do MHFAiders Learn?
What do MHFAiders learn?
The Standard MHFA Accredited course course covers common and disabling mental health problems and crisis situations. Participants learn how to apply mental health first aid to adults across a range of situations, including:
Depression
Anxiety
Psychosis
Substance use problems
Suicidal thoughts and behaviours
Panic attacks
Non-suicidal self-injury
Traumatic events
What do MHFAiders do?
MHFAiders play a critical role in reducing stigma and promoting pathways to support those experiencing mental health problems in our workplaces, communities, schools, and tertiary institutions. MHFAiders have the practical skills and knowledge to:
Maintain the values and qualities of the role
Understand the importance of confidentiality and non-judgemental listening.
Provide initial support to people
Use an evidence-based action plan to provide mental health first aid.
PROMOTE PATHWAYS TO SUPPORT
Help guide others to appropriate professional help or other supports.
Contribute to stigma reduction
Reduce stigma to encourage pathways to professional support.
Maintain boundaries in their MHFAider role
MHFAiders are not therapists or counsellors, nor can they diagnose mental illnesses.
Practice Self-care
Understand the importance of self-care when supporting others.
Does the MHFA accreditation expire?
Yes. Accreditations are valid for 3 years.
You can do a refresher course to extend the MHFAider accreditation for another 3 years.
Can I do the MHFA refresher course every 3 years?
You can do an MHFA Refresher course once after the MHFA induction (full) course.
If you have already completed an MHFA induction course, after three years, completed an MHFA refresher course, and it’s now three years after your refresher course, you will have to complete another induction course to be reaccredited as an MHFAider.
Is MHFA Nationally Recognised?
Yes. In fact, internationally recognised: Over 6 million people are trained in mental health first aid across 25 countries.
