Q1: Is the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course accredited?

The word “accredited” means different things in different contexts. There are different ways for a course to be considered “accredited”.

The MHFA course is presently accredited by the MHFA Program as an evidenced-based course – i.e. a course that is well supported by good research showing its efficacy. However, what some people want is an accreditation made against national standards or competencies.

Accreditation against national standards for mental health first aid

There are competency guidelines for mental health care given by mental health practitioners, but no national guidelines/standards for mental health first aid given by a first aider.

There are national competencies for regular first aid. These competencies/guidelines are decided upon by the Australian Resuscitation Council. Anyone wishing to develop an accredited regular first aid Course, must teach the skills, according to these ARC Guidelines. That is the only way a first aid course can be viewed as VET (vocational and education training) accredited.

The MHFA Training and Research Program has completed a five year research project to develop National MHFA Guidelines. We are currently investigating to set up a MHFA International entity to hold these guidelines to which a MHFA course may be accredited. It will be similar to the way National First Aid Standards (which are used to develop and update Red Cross, St Johns Ambulance etc First Aid Courses) are held by the Australian Resuscitation Council.

Accreditation as an evidenced-based course

The MHFA course was developed at the Centre for Mental Health Research, an internationally renowned research centre at the Australian National University. In 2005, the program moved to the University of Melbourne, where ORYGEN Research Centre was very keen to host the Program.

The program is well evaluated, with good outcomes demonstrated at follow-up by one open trial, two randomized controlled trials and one qualitative study. It is this rigorous evaluation that gives the MHFA Program its credibility. The two trainers of MHFA instructors were evaluated in these trials so we know that their training is effective. This is what distinguishes the MHFA course from many other courses where effectiveness is often not established. The evaluation articles published on the MHFA course can be accessed at this at our evaluation page.

As far as we are aware from the published literature, this is the only mental health education course for the public that has strong evidence for its effectiveness. The level of evidence meets the top NHMRC criteria ie level 1 evidence for an intervention.

The MHFA course is not VET accredited

Our 12-hour Mental Health First Aid Course does not issue a qualification or a statement of attainment. It issues a Certificate of Attendance. The MHFA Course makes no claims to be VET accredited or to meet industry approved competencies.

In summary the MHFA course is accredited by the MHFA Program as an evidenced-based course – ie a course that is well supported by good research showing its efficacy. As an additional step, we are currently investigating to set up a MHFA International entity to hold the Mental Health First Aid guidelines to which a MHFA course may be accredited.

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Q2. As a clinical psychologist / mental health professional, can I do a shorter course to become a MHFA Instructor?

Only accredited MHFA Instructors can conduct our 12 hour MHFA course. It is recognised that clinical psychologists and other mental health professionals are very skilled and knowledgeable about mental health problems and their treatments. However, the 12 hour MHFA course has a first aid focus and not one from a clinical aspect. Doctors and registered nurses do not always make the best first aiders. They are very competent in treatment in a clinical setting, but not usually taught or experience the basic care that a first aider can give prior to professional medical help arriving.

It is difficult to find which parts of the 5-day program to exempt mental health professionals from as the bulk of the 5 days involves learning the curriculum of the MHFA course and how to present it. There are a number of clinical psychologists and other mental health professionals who are accredited MHFA Instructors and all have completed the 5-day MHFA Instructor Training Course.

There are selection criteria to become a MHFA Instructor, the first one being a good knowledge and experience in mental health problems.

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Q3. If a trainee MHFA Instructor has already attended the 12 hour MHFA course, would they then only need to attend three days of the MHFA Instructor Training course (thereby adjusting the cost too)?

The ideal situation for a trainee MHFA Instructor is that they have already attended the 12-hour MHFA course with another Instructor, prior to the commencement of the 5-day MHFA Instructor Training Course.

Trainee instructors must attend the full five days. It is necessary that trainee Instructors attend the 5 consecutive days for the following reasons;

1. You are able to observe the 12-hour course from the viewpoint of being an Instructor, rather than a recipient.

2. Each Instructor has different teaching methods and it is an advantage to experience at least 2 styles before becoming an Instructor yourself.

3. The 12-hour course conducted on the first 2 days usually imparts more knowledge, given it is a class of trainee instructors.

4. Important networking & group cohesion occurs over the 5 days.

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Q4. Please tell me about the CALD versions of the MHFA Program.

We have a Vietnamese version of the Edition 1 Standard Course. The main modifications were to make the Vietnamese version of the MHFA course sensitive to the beliefs and views of Vietnamese culture. Asian cultures very often view mental illnesses as physical symptoms. The format of the 12hr course is similar to the Standard MHFA course. The modified MHFA manual and PPT slides are translated.

So far, we have only had one Instructor Training course to train Vietnamese Instructors. They need to meet our regular criteria and also be bilingual and accepted as one of the CALD community they are training for. Hence the MHFA Instructors who teach the Vietnamese MHFA course are Vietnamese and also trained as a mental health professional here in Australia e.g., psychologist, social worker etc .

With funding from beyondblue we are currently adapting the Standard course into simplified and traditional Chinese for Chinese Australians, which should be launched in 2012.

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Q5. I am interested in the MHFA Instructor Training but the cost is prohibitive. I am wondering if there is a possibility of either a reduction in the cost or ways to get funding to assist with the cost?

Yes, we appreciate the cost is substantial for a not-for-profit organisation.

Unfortunately we have to charge the course fee for the Instructor Training Course as this is the only income we have to help keep us self-sustaining.

We have, on occasions had scholarships available for trainees, due to generous donations. However, there are no scholarships available at the moment and none foreseeable on the horizon. We are continually on the look out for this.

Consider approaching the Rotary clubs in your region. The topic of mental illness awareness has been very well supported by the Australian Rotary organisation. You could offer to conduct some free MHFA courses for the Rotary club.

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Q6. Is there any way an individual or organisation can obtain a discount on the MHFA Instructor Training Course?

The upper limit on a MHFA course is 11 people per Trainer of Instructors. If both Trainers are available a maximum of 22 instructors can train in the one course. Unfortunately it is of no benefit to MHFA Australia whether the trainee instructors are all coming from the same organisation or not, we are a not- for- profit organisation and the cost of the course per participant is based on cost recovery.

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Q7. I am interested in the MHFA Instructor training but cannot afford the payments straight away. I am wondering if there is a possibility of ‘time-payments’ or ‘payment-by-installment’?

Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate a ‘time payment’ or ‘payment by installment’ arrangement’ for the Instructor course fee as our finance system does not allow for such arrangements.

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Q8. How the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA course differs from the regular MHFA course?

The AMHFA course

• is a 14 hour course.
• was developed in close consultation with key Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals and stakeholders.
• is delivered by accredited Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander instructors or non-Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid instructors with specialist training and accreditation.
• covers social and emotional wellbeing and mental health issues in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, outlining the effects of colonisation.
• covers the significant loss and grief issues faced by individuals.
• provides information on the resilience and survival of Aboriginal peoples despite past government policies and practices.
• looks at cultural presentations of mental illness and distress.
• provides information on culturally appropriate first aid interventions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
• provides information on how to locate culturally appropriate mental health resources and services.
• contains a separate chapter on suicide and self-harm.
• discusses social and environmental triggers for mental illness.
• includes inhalants and kava in the substance use section.
• language in the manual has been adjusted in an attempt to better
  suit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander course participants.
• contains a course workbook to assist with interaction during the course.
• includes Aboriginal artwork in all course materials.
• culturally appropriate DVD’s developed specifically for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander audience are used.

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