- Tier: Tier 1: Positive mental health promotion
- Category of intervention: Mental health literacy
- Strength of evidence: Level 4: Established evidence for program (supported by quality research evidence)
- Geographic location: Statewide
Program description
Youth Mental Health First Aid (Youth MHFA) is a practical, skills-based course focused on improving mental health literacy and equips secondary school staff with knowledge and skills to recognise signs and symptoms of common mental health problems in young people aged 12–18 years.
The course is delivered by independent Licensed Youth MHFA Instructors via face-to-face, blended face-to-face or blended online formats. Schools can engage an external Youth MHFA Instructor to deliver courses to their staff, or train eligible staff members as a Youth MHFA Instructor to then deliver Youth MHFA courses on behalf of the school.
Training to become a Youth MHFA instructor can be done via 2 pathways, a 5-day face-to-face course and a 3-day Masterclass. The Masterclass is only available to current Licensed MHFA instructors.
Intended outcomes
- Reduced stigmatising attitudes
- Increased knowledge of mental health problems
- Increased confidence in recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health problems in young people
Program details
| Target audience | Secondary school staff – capacity building |
|---|---|
| Program provider | Mental Health First Aid Australia |
| Delivery mode |
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Implementation considerations
- Target population: Secondary school staff who support students aged 12–18 years.
- Program adaptability: The program is suitable for diverse cohorts including:
- asylum seeker and refugee students
- culturally and linguistically diverse students.
- Staffing: Schools will need to consider backfilling of any staff who attend Youth MHFA courses or Instructor Training.
- Training requirements: Depending on the chosen delivery mode, schools and participants will need access to either a physical training space or reliable internet and working computer with camera facilities.
- Instructor training requires submission of an online application at least 4 weeks prior to training. Successful applicants will attend a 3- or 5-day course, depending on whether they are a new, existing or re-licensing Instructor. Additional upskills to deliver Blended courses apply.
- Factors to consider: Schools will need to consider the minimum and maximum number of participants permitted in Youth MHFA courses:
- Face-to-face or blended face-to-face delivery: 6–24 participants
- Blended online delivery: 6–12 participants.
- Australian context: Youth MHFA was developed in Australia.
Cost
Minimum cost
$2,000+
Detailed cost
Schools can engage an external Licensed Youth MHFA Instructor to deliver courses to their staff, or train eligible staff members as a Youth MHFA Instructor to then deliver Youth MHFA courses on behalf of the school. All prices are inclusive of GST.
To engage an external instructor to deliver Youth MHFA courses:
- Face to face course: $480 per person.
- Blended face-to-face course: $480 per person.
- Blended online course: $400 per person.
- Youth MHFA Refresher Course (face-to-face): $330 per person.
- Youth MHFA Refresher Course (online): $330 per person.
To become a Licensed Youth MHFA Instructor, two courses are offered, a 3-day course and a 5-day course.
The 3-day course is only available to existing or re-licensing MHFA Instructors.
The 5-day course is open to anyone who wishes to apply.
Schools may choose to ‘pool’ their funding to deliver a Private Instructor Training Course for 10 or more participants, subject to terms and conditions, should public Instructor Training Courses not meet their needs.
Accommodation and travel costs for Instructor Training courses will be an additional expense to schools and are not covered in MHFA program fees.
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