14-hour Youth MHFA Course
The 14-hour Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Course teaches adults (18 years and over) how to provide initial support to adolescents who are developing a mental illness or experiencing a mental health crisis.
The Youth Mental Health First Aid Course is for adults working or living with adolescents (those aged between 12 and 18 years), however, the course can be relevant for those helping people who are a little younger or older.
To find a course in your area click here.
What the course covers:
The course teaches adults how to assist adolescents who are developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. Course participants learn about adolescent development, the signs and symptoms of the common and disabling mental health problems in young people, where and how to get help when a young person is developing a mental illness, what sort of help has been shown by research to be effective, and how to provide first aid in a crisis situation.
The developing mental health problems covered are:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Psychosis
- Eating disorders
- Substance misuse
The mental health crisis situations covered are:
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviours
- Non-suicidal self-injury (sometimes called self-harm)
- Panic attacks
- Traumatic events
- Acute effects of drug or alcohol use
- Severe psychotic states
Format
This is a 14 hour course, which can be delivered as either:
A 2-day training package (7 hours per day), OR
As 4 Separate modules (3.5 hours each)
Course participants receive a copy of the Youth MHFA Manual to keep and a Certificate of Completion.
Youth MHFA Manual
A manual is provided to each participant attending this 14-hour MHFA course. This Youth MHFA manual can also be purchased online at the MHFA Shop. A review of this manual can be read here.
Who can attend a course?
Any interested adult can attend, though please note this course is not for adolescents to attend. This course is also not a therapy or support group, rather it is an education course to learn how to give first aid to others.
About Mental Health First Aid Courses
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. MHIST offers MHFA Courses as authored by MHFA Australia, delivered by Instructors who are currently accredited by MHFA Australia.