Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) – 14 hours (2 days)
This course is for adults living or working with adolescents, aged between 12-24. YMHFA is appropriate for school teachers and staff, sporting clubs, youth groups and parents. The course teaches participants how to provide initial support to a person developing a mental illness, experiencing a worsening of a mental illness or who is in crisis, until professional help arrives or the crisis resolves.
As we know with any sort of first aid, the initial response to those in need can have profound and ongoing effects in their recovery. MHFA has been shown to improve outcomes, improve mental health literacy and reduce stigma in society surrounding mental illness.
Mental illnesses covered
- Depression
- Anxiety problems
- Psychosis
- Substance use problems
- Eating disorders
Crisis situations covered
- 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
Course format
- 14 hours over 2 days (7hrs/day)
- 14 hours over 4 sessions of 3.5 hrs each
Participants receive a YMHFA manual to take home for future reference and a certificate of completion. Post the course, participants have the option of completing a short quiz to become an ‘accredited’ mental health first aider. CPD points may also apply to your profession.