Standard Mental Health First Aid Course in Perth

The Standard Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA) course equips individuals with mental health first aid skills. Similar to physical first aid, the SMHFA course offers a practical Action Plan, ALGEE, to direct the support given. This course complements other workplace mental health awareness programs, with a distinct emphasis on providing employees with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to offer appropriate support to those experiencing mental health issues.

Completion of the SMHFA course enables staff to develop competencies in assisting a colleague, friend, or family member. These skills are applicable across various situations, positively influencing both the workplace and the wider community.

It has been shown that SMHFA training is associated with:

• Improved understanding of mental illnesses, their treatments and appropriate first aid strategies.
• Increased confidence in providing first aid to a person experiencing a mental health problem.
• Reduction in stigmatising attitudes.
• Increases in the amount and type of support.

Course content is derived from several studies that incorporate the insights and expertise of hundreds of researchers, clinicians, advocates for mental health consumers, and carer advocates, spanning the English-speaking western world.

SMHFA courses can provide members of the community with: 

• Skills in how to recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health problems. 
• Knowledge of the possible risk factors for these mental health problems.
• Awareness of the evidenced based medical, psychological, and alternative treatments available. 
• Skills in how to provide appropriate initial help and support someone experiencing a mental health problem. 
• Skills in how to take appropriate action if a crisis arises involving suicidal behaviour, panic attack, stress reaction to trauma, overdose or threatening psychotic behaviour. 

SMHFA courses are open to all members of the community, aged 18 years and above. This includes security officers, police officers, prison officers, high school teachers, TAFE and university lecturers, social and welfare workers, youth workers, Aboriginal health workers, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, lawyers, dieticians, physiotherapists, chiropractors, rehabilitation counsellors and anyone in a team leader/management role.