Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa
About 1 in 5 New Zealand adults experience challenges with mental health in any given year.
This means that all members of our community can expect to have close contact with someone experiencing mental health challenges at some time. For this reason, the Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa is relevant and beneficial to everyone.
Evaluations consistently show that Mental Health First Aid training improves understanding of the mental health challenges people experience, their options for treatment and helpful first aid strategies. Participants report increased confidence in their ability to offer Mental Health First Aid which enables early access to help. The training also decreases stigma and discrimination that many people with mental health and addictions challenges experience.
About Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa
Mental Health First Aid is an internationally acclaimed and evidence-based, accredited training programmes that empower and equip individuals with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to support a friend, family member or co-worker experiencing mental health challenges or a crisis.
The Mental Health First Aid Program began in Australia in 2000 and has since evolved into a global movement that is delivered by an active community of licensed providers in 24 countries.
In New Zealand Te Pou www.mentalhealthfirstaid.nz is the current host and licence provider of Mental Health First Aid.
During the Workshop
Mental health Challenges Covered:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Psychosis
- Problematic substance use
Mental Health Crisis Covered:
- Thoughts of suicide and behaviours
- Non- Suicidal self-injury
- Panic attack
- Traumatic events
- Severe effects from Alcohol or other substance use
- Aggressive behaviours
You will learn the ALGEE five step action plan:
- Approach, assess and assist any crisis
- Listen and communicate non judgementally
- Give support and information
- Encourage professional help
- Encourage other supports
What you leave the workshop with
Apart from the skills and knowledge you will gain, you will become an accredited Mental Health First Aider with the option to complete the open book online test. This is valid for three years and then a refresher course would need to be completed.
You receive a manual that has in-depth information with what you have been taught during the workshop. The manual also has an in-depth list of resources of where to go and practical resources to assist someone experiencing a mental health challenge.
Please note this course if for people aged 18 years and over. This is an education workshop not a course for therapeutic purposes or a support group.
Workshop Structure
Standard Mental Health First Aid Course Aotearoa NZ
The standard MHFA face to face course is 14 hours. This can be configured in number of ways, and I am happy to explore this with you.
When providing the Mental Health First Aid course it is always best to do so with two instructors, given the sensitivity and depth of the content. For this reason, we also keep the group size to maximum of 20 participants.
Blended Online Mental Health First Aid Course Aotearoa NZ
We are pleased to announce we can now provide Blended Online Community and Workplace MHFA workshops, utilising a combination of online and in person training with our team. This program has been adapted for New Zealanders from the Australian MHFA program, and has been well received by our Australian neighbours.
MHFA Aotearoa NZ Refresher Course
The MHFA refresher course will become available later this year (2023), please get in touch with me for more information on this.
We look forward to hearing from you and discussing the Mental Health First Aid programme being delivered to your organisation/group.
Course facilitator note:
About me
Since 2016 I have been part of the MHFA Aotearoa New Zealand program. Initially as an accredited instructor of MHFA and now as part of the training team of the new MHFA instructors and the development and adaptation of each MHFA program available in Aotearoa New Zealand.
To date I have delivered the programme to tertiary education institutes, corporate industries, NGO’s and primary health sector.
What I love about the programme is the practical element. You go away with tools for your kitty and come away with a better understanding of mental health, mental health challenges and mental illness, what signs and symptoms you might see and recognise when someone might be becoming unwell or if someone is in a crisis and how you can respond in each of these situations.
My background is in social work in both health and social care sector, including care and protection, mental health, children, families and individuals. I have worked both in the private and public sector, which has included NGO’s and government agencies. I have been practicing within the social work field for over 25 years. I am a senior practitioner in my discipline working in a number of front-line roles, therapeutic focused intervention, leadership roles and providing supervision.
As well as being a Mental Health First Aid Instructor I continue to provide external Supervision to those who work in health and social care and train other people through, Te Pou to become instructors of the Mental Health First Aid.
Please get in touch for pricing, info and bookings.
Based in the Waikato, NZ, able to provide in person sessions in Te Awamutu and Otorohanga or via virtual platform.