What is Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
What is Youth Mental Health First Aid
Mental health first aid is the help provided to someone who is developing a mental health problem, has a worsening of an existing mental health problem or is in a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves. Mental health first aid strategies are taught in evidence-based training programs authored by Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Australia and conducted by accredited MHFA Instructors across Australia, including our team at Greenhouse Health Hub.
What is considered ‘Youth’ in Youth Mental Health First Aid Training?
The Youth Mental Health First Aid Course (YMHFA) is for adults working or living with adolescents (those aged between 12 and 18 years), however, the course can be relevant for those helping people who are a little younger or older.
Who is this course relevant for?
This course is particularly suitable for parents, teachers, sports coaches, support workers and youth workers. Any interested adult can attend, though please note this course is not for adolescents to attend. This course is also not a therapy or support group, rather it is an education course to learn how to give first aid to others
What does the course cover?
The course teaches adults how to assist adolescents who are developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. Course participants learn about adolescent development, the signs and symptoms of the common and disabling mental health problems in young people, where and how to get help when a young person is developing a mental illness, what sort of help has been shown by research to be effective, and how to provide first aid in a crisis situation.
Developing mental health problems covered are:
Depression
Anxiety problems
Psychosis
Substance use problems
Eating disorders
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
Jerem was amazing! He explained very difficult issues so simply for us to understand. He generally showed passion for Mental Health and gave us skills and strategies to confidently apply what we learnt.
YMHFA Attendee
How long is the course?
The course content is covered in 14 hours of training. This is delivered across two, seven hour days.
Accreditation
Course participants receive a copy of the Youth MHFA Manual to keep and a Certificate of Completion. After the training you will receive an email prompting you to complete a short quiz which you need to complete in order to obtain your 3 year Youth Mental Health First Aid Accreditation.
When are upcoming courses delivered by Greenhouse?
Greenhouse health hub delivers two day workshops at the Tallebudgera Recreation centre on the Gold Coast. Upcoming course dates include:
– March 16 – 17, 2023
– August 10 – 11, 2023
– November 16 – 17, 2023
Check out The Hub for upcoming workshops and links to purchase tickets.
Does Greenhouse offer private workshops?
Yes, we do! Contact us to find out more about tailored training and YMFA courses for your team.
The course can be delivered in one of two ways:
A 2-day training package (7 hours per day), OR
As 4 Separate modules (3.5 hours each)
