Mental Health First Aider

Online Course Structure

Individual learning session 1 (1 hour): 

  • Introduction to the Online Mental Health First Aid course and the Online Learning Hub (course overview, safety procedure, attending live sessions, and completing individual learning activities) 

  • Activity 1: Why Mental Health First Aid? 

  • Activity 2: The Mental Health First Aid action plan 

  • Activity 3: What is mental health? 

  • Activity 4: Quiz: Impact of mental health 

  • Activity 5: Stress Container (completed after live session) 

  • Activity 6: Frame of Reference (completed after live session)

Live session 1

(2-2.5 hours)

  • Introduction to course functions 

  • Introduction to the course 

  • ALGEE and mental health introduction recap 

  • Stigma 

  • Risk and protective factors 

  • Frame of Reference 

  • The Mental Health Continuum 

  • Introduction to the Stress Container 

Individual learning 2 (1.5 - 2 hours)

  • Activity 7: What is depression? 

  • Activity 8: Risk factors for depression 

  • Activity 9: Mental Health First Aid for depression 

  • Activity 10: Introduction to suicide 

Live session 2

(2-2.5 hours)

  • Recap of individual learning on depression 

  • Prevalence of suicide 

  • Suicide, substance misuse and dual diagnosis 

  • Analyse the impact of suicidal feelings 

  • Explain Mental Health First Aid action plan 1 for suicide 

  • Explain non-judgmental listening, Empathy video 

  • Practice using ALGEE in case study scenarios 

  • Review of ALGEE for suicide and depression 

  • Self-care 

Individual learning 3

(1.5 - 2 hours)

  • Activity 11: What is anxiety? 

  • Activity 12: Mental Health First Aid for anxiety 

  • Activity 13: What are eating disorders? 

  • Activity 14: Mental Health First Aid for eating disorders 

  • Activity 15: What is self-harm? 

  • Activity 16: Mental Health First Aid for self-harm 

  • Activity 17: What are personality disorders? 

Live session 3

(2-2.5 hours)

  • Recap of individual learning on anxiety 

  • Recap of the five basic steps of ALGEE for anxiety 

  • Explain action 1 for anxiety 

  • How to support someone who is having a panic attack 

  • Explain crisis first aid 

  • Practice action 2: non-judgmental listening 

  • Practice applying the Mental Health First Aid action plan for anxiety 

  • Explain cognitive behavioural therapy 

  • Recap of eating disorders and self-harm 

  • Case study for eating disorders and self-harm 

  • Review ALGEE for eating disorders and self-harm 

Individual learning 4 (1.5 - 2 hours)

  • Activity 18: What are psychosis, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder? 

  • Activity 19: Risk factors for psychosis 

  • Activity 20: Mental Health First Aid for psychosis 

  • Activity 21: Helpful and unhelpful responses 

  • Workbook Activity 10: My action plan for using Mental Health First Aid (completed after live session)  

Live session 4

(2-2.5 hours)

  • Review of individual learning on psychosis 

  • Explain the development of symptoms of psychosis 

  • Review the five steps of ALGEE for psychosis 

  • Group discussion about MHFA Australia psychosis video 

  • Case study activity using Mental Health First Aid action plan for psychosis 

  • Recovery 

  • Explore how to build a mentally healthy workplace 

  • Start action plan to use Mental Health First Aid