Mental Health First Aid Courses

Options for delivery 

This is a 12-hour course which is usually delivered as either a 2-day training package (6 hours per day), or as 4 separate modules (3 hours each). There is also a blended option, with an online component.

More information can be found at: https://mhfa.com.au/courses/public/types/standardedition4

Workshop content 

Learn how to assist adults 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.

This course is based on guidelines developed through the expert consensus of people with lived experience of mental health problems and professionals. 

Mental health problems covered

• Depression

• Anxiety problems

• Psychosis

• Substance use problems

Mental health crises covered

• Suicidal thoughts and behaviours

• Non-suicidal self-injury 

• Panic attacks

• Traumatic events

• Severe psychotic states 

• Severe effects from alcohol or other drug use 

• Aggressive behaviours

Options for delivery 

• 4 hour face-to-face 

Workshop content 

A Blended MHFA Course is a combination of an online (eLearning) course and a follow-on half day face-to-face course.

Course participants first complete the interactive self-paced eLearning component that teaches them about mental health problems, mental health crises and skills to offer initial help to an adult developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. The follow-on face-to-face session allows participants the opportunity to revise and consolidate knowledge in a group environment, while applying their skills to specific scenarios.

After completing both steps, participants are eligible to complete an online assessment in order to receive a Certificate of Accreditation which is valid for 3 years. An Accredited Mental Health First Aider (MHFAider) is eligible to be appointed as a Mental Health First Aid Officer in your workplace.

Options for delivery 

• 2 x 2.5 Hour Video conferencing sessions 

More information can be found at: https://mhfa.com.au/blended-online-courses-covid-19

Blended Online MHFA Community

100% online in a blended format.

• Course Component 1 - A self-paced eLearning component (takes 5-7 hours to complete)

• Course Component 2 - An Instructor-led component using video conferencing (2 sessions of 2.5 hours each including set up time).

Blended Online MHFA Workplace

100% online in a blended format.

• Course Component 1 - A self-paced eLearning component (takes 5-7 hours to complete)

• Course Component 2 - An Instructor-led component using video conferencing (2 sessions of 2.5 hours each including set up time).

What are MHFA Refresher Courses?

Refresher courses are 4 hour face-to-face courses that allow people who have previously completed a 12 or 14 hour Mental Health First Aid course to refresh their knowledge and skills. For people who are Accredited MHFAiders, the refresher courses offer an opportunity to extend their accreditation for a further 3 years.

The content of each refresher course is based on guidelines developed through the expert consensus of people with lived experience of mental health problems and professionals.

There are three different Refresher courses available. MHFAiders should do the same type of refresher course as their original 12-14 hour MHFA course to renew their accreditation.

Management Courses

Options for delivery 

Choose between;

• Abbreviated 2-hour presentation (Online options available)

• or a Face to face 6-hour workshop (with activities) 

Workshop content 

• Practising Mindful Compassion in the workplace

• Empathy skills as a manager 

• Connecting with staff and building trust

• Taking notice and raising concerns 

• Pro-active approach to employee well being 

• 5 Steps to build confidence in your team members

• Delivering constructive feedback

• How to have difficult conversations. 

Options for delivery: 

Choose between;

• Abbreviated 2-hour presentation (Online options available)

• or a Face to face 6-hour workshop (with activities)

Workshop content 

• Physical, mental and emotional exhaustion 

• Early warning signs for burnout 

• Ways to manage burnout 

• Ways to prevent burnout 

• Anxiety v’s stress

• EAP 

• Prolonged stress and how it affects productivity 

• Positive aspects of work 

• Flexible work arrangements

Options for delivery: 

Choose between;

• Face-to-face Abbreviated 2-hour presentation (Online options available)

• or a Face to face 6-hour workshop (with activities)

Workshop content 

• Assertiveness training 

• Avoiding passive behaviours 

• Apologising effectively 

• Mindful speaking – choosing the right words

• Mindful listening skills

Options for delivery:

Choose between;

• Face-to-face Abbreviated 3-hour presentation (Online options available)

• or a Face to face 6-hour workshop (with activities)

Workshop content

• Reading body language 

• Avoiding / compromising/ accommodating/ collaborating/ competing

• Distress tolerance (Window of tolerance)  

• Problem- solving techniques 

• The different types of personalities and how to work with them

• RESOLVE Method and a practical approach to resolving conflict

Mental Health & Well-being in the Workplace

Options for delivery: 

Choose between;

• Face-to-face Abbreviated 2-hour presentation (Online options available)

• or a Face to face 6-hour workshop (with activities)

Workshop content 

• What is resilience 

• The benefits and characteristics of resilience 

• Everyday resilience 

• Internal and external reactions to change 

• Stress reduction tips

• Growth Mindset v’s fixed mindset 

• Self-regulation techniques 

• Cognitive distortions and how to manage them

Options for delivery: 

Choose between;

• Face-to-face Abbreviated 2-hour presentation (Online options available)

• or a Face to face 6-hour workshop (with activities)

Workshop content 

• The science of happiness

• Growth Mindset v’s fixed mindset

• Optimism and pessimism 

• Strengths and Values assessment and discussion

• Subjective wellbeing 

• Strengthening Intrapersonal relationships 

• Strengthening intrapersonal relationships 

• Gratitude – why it is important 

• Positive Psychology interventions- how can we implement them everyday?

Options for delivery:

Choose between;

• Face-to-face Abbreviated 3-hour presentation (Online options available)

• or a Face to face 6-hour workshop (with activities)

Workshop content

• Setting healthy boundaries 

• Advantages of healthy boundaries 

• Goals and objectives of change 

• Exploring unhealthy boundaries and why they exist

• Good mental health

• Good emotional health 

• Influencing others 

• Developing autonomy 

Options for delivery 

• Abbreviated 2-hour presentation (Online options available)

• or a Face to face 6-hour workshop (with activities)

Training content 

• Defining resilience 

• Four key elements of resilience 

• Attention to positive or negative events 

• Appraisal theory 

• Benefit finding 

• Optimism 

• Maladaptive and adaptive coping strategies 

• Coping style analysis 

• What does it mean to be resilient? 

• Common thinking errors

• Dealing with Non-Resilient thoughts

• Adaptive/ Non-Adaptive coping thoughts

• Self-Compassion v’s Self-Care 

•  Response to criticism 

• Growth Mindset to criticism

• Reframing Critical self-talk

• Dealing with the uncontrollable

• Gratitude for resilience 

• Boundary setting and personal rights.   

Mental Health Professional Courses

Options for delivery: 

Choose between;

• Face-to-face Abbreviated 3-hour presentation (Online options available)

• or a Face to face 8-hour workshop (with activities)

Workshop content 

• What is Hoarding? 

• Why do people collect?

• DSMIV Criteria for Hoarding Disorder and recommended treatment options.

• Etiology of Hoarding (Trauma, Genetics, Emotional Dysregulation, Attachment, Executive functioning, Decision making skills, motivation)

• CBT Framework for Hoarding Disorder

• What not to do

• The impact of Forensic cleans 

• Therapeutic Framework (Trauma Informed Care, Motivational interviewing skills, behavioural analysis, exposure therapy, resilience coaching, visualisation techniques). 

• Practical strategies in the home (Cleaning, tidying, organising, space clearing)

• ‘Keep, donate, organise, discard’ strategy. 

• Debriefing about the experiencing 

• Empowering the consumer

• Compassion fatigue/ Patience training

• Self-Care/ Burn out management strategies.

Coaching Master Classes - Online Training & Webinars

• Emotions - A deeper look

• Emotional intelligence 

• Emotional awareness 

• Beliefs about emotions 

• Emotional knowledge

• Emotional expression 

• Different types of meaning 

• Finding Meaning in the bright side of life 

• Finding Meaning in the Dark side of life 

• Awareness of values 

• Beliefs about values 

• Motives behind values 

• Value expression 

• Weaknesses 

• Self-evaluation 

• Awareness of weaknesses 

• Motivation for improvement 

•  Self-Care 

• Goals 

• Attention to goals 

• Outcome expectancies 

• Motivation behind goals 

• Goal-directed behaviour 

• Strengths 

• Awareness of strengths 

• Implicit theories about strengths 

• The benefits of strengths 

• Strength regulation 

• Social relationships 

• Attention for social relationships 

• The perceived quality of relationships 

• Motivation for commitment 

• Relationship management 

• Attention to the now 

• Automaticity 

• Judgment 

• Acceptance  

• Goals

• Compassion 

• Ego

• Integration