MHFA_BCO – Mental Health First Aid in the Community (Blended Online)

Approximately 20% of Australian adults experience a common mental illness each year. People who experience mental illness come from diverse backgrounds, live in every community, attend local schools, are employed in every workplace and are at different ages and stages of life.  Many people feel uncomfortable and unprepared when thinking about starting a mental health conversation with someone they are concerned about. Understanding how to talk about mental health and having the confidence and knowledge to help someone in need are important skills that any person in the community can learn.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches participants how to assist people who are developing a mental health problem‚ experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem or in a mental health crisis, until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves.

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 (MHFA) courses are delivered under the authority of Mental Health First Aid Australia, by MHFA accredited instructors.

This course is intended for the public to gain an understanding of a first response approach to assisting an adult experiencing mental health concerns.  The course introduces students to a range of mental health concerns, and through a five-step action plan, students learn how to respond to someone who is experiencing mental health concerns.