Mental Health First Aid Training Courses

I’ve always been a big believer in finding the right people for the job especially when it comes to important training such as Mental Health in the Workplace.

We were therefore extremely impressed when Rob Rule of Timber Training Creswick introduced me to the work being undertaken in Tassie by Wendy French of Talking About. Not only is Wendy a passionate timber chick but Wendy has also worked directly in the forest and wood products industry including time spent with ForestWorks and over the past year in particular, Wendy has delivered some outstanding programs in Tasmania.

The Blended Online MHFA Community Course has been adapted from the Standard Mental Health First Aid Course for adults.

In this informative and practical course, you will learn about the signs and symptoms of common and disabling mental health problems in adults, how to provide initial help, where and how to get professional help, what sort of help has been shown by research to be effective, and how to provide mental health first aid in a crisis situation using a practical, evidence-based action plan.
Mental health first aid skills learnt by participants in this course can be applied in any setting. Course content includes case-studies, videos and resources tailored to the learning needs of community/public course participants.

Developed in response to COVID-19, the new Blended Online MHFA Community Course includes two course components, which are:

Course Component 1 – Self-paced interactive eLearning (5-7 hours)

The eLearning course component presents an overview of mental health problems and mental health crises.

Developing mental health problems covered include

• 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 behaviour

Course Component 2 – Instructor-led video conferencing (2 x 3 -hour sessions) – follows the completion of Course Component 1 – eLearning.

Course Component 2 provides course participants with an opportunity to revise content covered in the self-paced eLearning program and to consolidate the application of this content with the development of practical skills in a group environment online.

Course Component 2 provides participants with the opportunity to

• Revise the eLearning content and the MHFA Action Plan
• Clarify any points of uncertainty remaining after completion of the eLearning modules
• Apply the MHFA Action Plan to relevant scenarios
• Discuss and reflect ‘a where to from now’ in using mental health first aid skills
• Develop a self-care plan to maintain good mental health

Both course components of the course are to be completed within a 3-month period.

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

Eligibility Criteria

This course is adapted from the current Australian Standard Face-to-Face Mental Health First Aid Course for adults. Course specific content, health system information and resources related to the provision of Mental Health First Aid within Australia.

Course participants are required to be Australian residents and over the age of 18.

Dates and Costs

Each Training Group needs a minimum 6 people or maximum 12 per group and the cost is an exceptionally low $250 per person.  FTMA has locked in two training dates (remembering that the first step has to be undertaken by the registered trainee in their own time before the facilitated training commences).  These dates are:

Course 1: Session One – Friday 2nd October at 1-4pm and Session 2 – Friday 9th October 1-4pm

Course 2: Session One – Monday 26th October at 1-4pm and Session 2 – Monday 2nd November at 1-4pm

To register you interest in these exclusive training sessions for FTMA Members please complete the EOI Form (Below) indicating your preferred date and send back to kersten@ftma.com.au to secure you spot in this great and affordable training.

If there is greater interest, FTMA will coordinate further dates.  FTMA believes every plant should register someone within the business to do this accredited training.

If you have any questions, or if your business believes they have a minimum 6 people they would like to register, let me know and I shall put you directly in touch with Wendy.  If you would like to learn more about Talking About please visit their website at https://www.talkingabout.net.au/