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Safer Communities offers Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training and consultancy to schools and workplaces. We are based in the Byron Bay Hinterland but travel throughout Australia.

​With an extensive background in the Australian education and school system, we specialise in providing services to schools and youth focused community organisations.

CONTACT:

Mark Smith 

Phone: 0413 684 350

Email: mark@safercommunities.com.au

Our Contact Form

NESA ENDORSEMENT STATEMENT

Youth Mental Health First Aid will contribute 14 hours of NESA Registered PD addressing 6.2.2, 6.4.2, 7.2.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

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© 2018 by Safer Communities.

Site design by Wild Honey Creative

12 HOUR - STANDARD MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE

A comprehensive course for any adult to deliver MHFA
 

A COURSE FOR EVERYBODY

Australian Government health studies indicate one in three Australians will meet criteria for some type of mental illness in their lifetime.  

 

The 12 Hour Standard MHFA course teaches PRACTICAL and EVIDENCED BASED skills to assess, approach and assist a person developing a mental health problem or in a crisis situation.


We place a great deal of importance in workplaces to learn regular first aid, yet mental health problems are common. 


All workplaces should have should have employees trained. The course is designed to be accessible to any adult. 


Mark Smith is a leading instructor of MHFA programs. In his role with MHFA International as a consultant trainer, Mark is entrusted with the responsibility of training and assessing new Youth MHFA Instructors. Mark has been delivering MHFA courses from July 2010.

Mental health problems covered are:

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Psychosis

  • Substance use problems

Mental health crisis situations covered are:

  • Suicidal thoughts and behaviours

  • Non-suicidal self-injury (sometimes called deliberate self-harm)

  • Panic attacks

  • Traumatic events

  • Severe effects of drug or alcohol use

  • Severe psychotic states

  • Aggressive behaviours

Mental Health First Aid was developed in Australia and is now taught in 25 countries worldwide. There is considerable research into the effectiveness of MHFA courses and there are many high profile advocates.  In 2014 American President, Barack Obama, mentioned this program in speeches about effective Mental Health support for American schools.

Participants are eligible for accreditation with Mental Health First Aid Australia.*

 

All participants will receive a certificate of participation and a resource book that contains all of the information provided in the course.

The course is for any interested adult. All workplaces will benefit from having staff undertake MHFA training.

MHFA is a highly practical course - participants will learn effective and research proven strategies to support a Person experiencing a mental health problem or crisis situation.

* To complete the accreditation process participants must complete a 15 minute online quiz and feedback form with Mental Health First Aid Australia after they have completed the course. This is free of charge and is valid for three years.