International MHFA Programs

Info last updated: May 2011

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Mental Health First Aid Finland

Coordinating body: Finnish Association for Mental Health, FAMH
Website: www.mielenterveysseura.fi/en/
Launched: 2008
Program delivered: Standard MHFA in Finnish and Swedish
Contact: Ms Merja Lyytikäinen

Interesting stats:

• Mental Health First Aid is registered as a trademark in Finnish in Finland, Mielenterveyden ensiapu ®.
• As at September 2010 FAMH Education Centre the project has trained 105 Instructors

Description:

The Finnish Association for Mental Health in cooperation with the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has been involved in bringing the MHFA Program to Finland. As of 1 September 2008 FAMH has been solely responsible for all MHFA-education in Finland. The original Australian MHFA-concept was adapted for Finnish circumstances and renamed MHFA2-course. The MHFA2 manual was translated into Finnish and Swedish. To compliment the MHFA2 –course FAMH developed a new concept with salutogenic approach, the MHFA1-course, which encourages people to promote good mental health and to be aware of and prevent risk factors. The MHFA1-manual is available in Finnish only. Approximately 60% of all participants take part in both MHFA1- and MHFA2-courses. MHFA2-courses are frequented by health or social services professionals.

As at September 2010 FAMH Education Centre the project has trained 105 Instructors who are currently delivering MHFA1- and MHFA2-courses to the people living throughout Finland. FAMH Education Centre supervises the standard of the teaching in courses regularly by conducting surveys among MHFA-participants. The quality of the delivery of the course is regularly monitored by surveys conducted among MHFA-participants. All Instructors are specially selected, trained and approved by the FAMH Education Centre.

Info last updated: Jan 2013

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Mental Health First Aid Hong Kong

Coordinating body: Mental Health Association of Hong Kong
Website: www.mhfa.org.hk./
Launched: 2008
Program delivered: Standard MHFA
Contact: dce@mhahk.org.hk

Interesting stats:

• The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong has introduced MHFA to mainland China
• Over 1000 people have attended promotional talks to encourage people to attend a MHFA course
• In January 2010, 50 MHFA instructors attended the first instructor reunion attended by Betty Kitchener

Description:
The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong brought Betty Kitchener over in March 2004 and September 2005 to train a large team of MHFA Instructors in Hong Kong. In 2006 the Association produced its modified MHFA manual and teaching materials in Chinese and since December 2008, has been conducting MHFA Instructor training courses. Among the 50 MHFA Instructors trained at the Association, there are social workers, nurses, clinical psychologists and counsellors. There are also two MHFA Instructors employed at Kwai Chung Hospital where they conduct two courses per year for its staff and two other MHFA Instructors employed as clinical psychologist staff at Hong Kong University delivering courses to the university student population. All instructors share a strong mission to promote mental health knowledge to the general public. All instructors are committed to teach 3 courses each year.

Since 2005 over 4,000 people such as interested public, corporate employees, social service staff, hospital staff and students have attended the MHFA courses. With an estimate of the ongoing demand, the association will organize 50 classes per year. In 2009, the MHAHK held a design competition to develop a MHFA HK logo. The winning logo combines a first aid symbol and the dandelion flower, which symbolize the spread of MHFA hand in hand to everywhere it goes. Also in 2009, MHFA courses went to China for 120 staff working in mental health sector in the Guangdong area. These courses were well received and more are planned for mental health staff in China. The MHAHK is now developing its 2nd edition Chinese MHFA manual, based on the MHFA Guidelines.

Info last updated: May 2011

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MHFA Japan
Website: www.mhfa.jp
Launched: 2008
Program delivered: Standard MHFA
Contact: Dr Yuriko Suzuki

Description:

In late 2007, a group of young enthusiastic psychiatrists, led by Dr Yuriko Suzuki, wishing to improve psychiatric skills in university medical students, attended some MHFA training in Melbourne, Australia. They then wrote the MHFA-J manual which was piloted to medical students, with 6-months follow-up data being collected. The MHFA-J manual is being well-received and has been distributed to medical colleagues, related committees, the Ministry of Health and a taskforce in the Ministry of Education. MHFA-J manual was used in a publicly funded research project to develop a 2-hour suicide intervention program among medical residents, based on the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) which found Participants’ confidence and attitudes significantly improved. It is hoped that the MHFA-J project will run on a non-profit business model in future. Evaluation article (2010)

Info last updated: May 2011

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MHFA Nepal

Coordinating body: South Asia Forum on Mental Health & Psychiatry (SAF) – Nepal and the Himalayan Development International (HDI) UK
Launched: due in 2011
Program delivered: Standard MHFA
Contact: Betty Kitchener

Interesting stats:
MHFA Nepal was launched by SAF-Nepal in November 2010 at a special ceremony in Kathmandu inaugurated by Dr. Kedar Narsingh KC, the president of the Nepal Medical Association in the presence of the MHFA founders, Betty Kitchener and Professor Tony Jorm along with representatives from Ministry of Health, Mental Hospital, CMC, Nepal, TU Teaching Hospital, and various other mental health organisations. Dr. Arun Jha, Chairman, Psychiatry Section of the Nepalese Doctors’ Association UK, came especially from England to help implement the MHFA program in Nepal.

Betty Kitchener ran a 12-hour MHFA course for over 22 delegates from various Governmental and non-Governmental organisations. Dr. Pramod Shyangwa, Prabhat Kiran Pradhan and Baby Nakarm were offered additional training to become the first National Instructors for MHFA Nepal. Currently, the MHFA Nepal manual and training materials are being prepared by adapting the Australian version. The Nepalese version of the MHFA course is expected to be ready in 2011, which will be evaluated before being offered to the general public. Two types of course are being planned – a shorter 8-hour course for the general public and a proper 12-hour course for the front line health professionals.

Info last updated: May 2011

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MHFA New Zealand

Coordinating body: Counties Manukau District Health Board
Website: www.cmdhb.org.nz
Launched: 2008
Program delivered: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA (adapted)
Contact: Barry Bublitz

Interesting stats:

• Mental Health First Aid for Whaanua won an award in the Community and Public Health category at the CMDHB SCIENCE FEST

Description:

Late 2008, the Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB) in New Zealand began its adaptation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA Australia Program for Maaori people. Four CMDHB service providers were contracted to assist in the adaptation process.   It has produced a wonderful MHFA for Whaanau manual and workbook. An evaluation of the Mental Health First Aid for Whaanau Pilot showed the initiative’s intended outcomes were achieved. Whaanua is a Maaori word meaning extended family.

Info last updated: Nov 2012

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MHFA Northern Ireland

Coordinating body: Public Health Agency
Website: www.publichealth.hscni.net
Launched: 2009
Program delivered: Standard MHFA

Contact: Deirdre McNamee

Interesting stats:

• Approximately 1 in 5 people show signs of a possible mental health problem in Northern Ireland
• About 41 Instructors have been accredited in the MHFA program

Description:
MHFA was first delivered in Northern Ireland as part of a pilot program in a cross-border area between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The pilot was the result of collaboration between the Health Promotion Agency (whose responsibilities have now transferred to the Public Health Agency), Cooperation and Working Together (CAWT) and Aware Defeat Depression. During the pilot, 15 instructors delivered the course to over 230 participants from a range of backgrounds using materials from Scotland’s MHFA. An evaluation of the pilot overwhelmingly indicated that participants welcomed the training and felt that it enabled them to recognise the symptoms of mental illness and that it provided them with the confidence, skill, motivation and knowledge to offer help. Due to the success of the pilot, and in response to increasing demand for MHFA training, the HPA worked with Instructors and a Specialist Reference Group to adapt the materials specifically for use in Northern Ireland. In early 2009, Betty Kitchener co-facilitated the 5-day Standard (first edition) MHFA training course, for 27 MHFA Instructors, using the new materials. Throughout 2009, the program rolled out across Northern Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland, the HSE is currently looking at the implementation of MHFA across all counties.

Info last updated: May 2011

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MHFA Portugal
Coordinating body: Feliz Mente (Happy Mind)
Launched: 2012
Program delivered: Youth MHFA
More details soon

Info last updated: 5th Nov 2012

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MHFA Saudi Arabia
Launched: 2012
Program delivered: Standard MHFA
More details soon

Info last updated: 5th Nov 2012

Mental Health First Aid Scotland

Coordinating body: National Health Service for Scotland
Website: www.smhfa.com
Launched: 2005
Program delivered: Standard MHFA
Contact: nhs.HealthScotland-SMHFA@nhs.net
Interesting stats:

• 1 in 4 people in Scotland will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives
• 10 deaf instructors have trained to deliver the course in sign language
• Around 27,500 participants have attended Scotland MHFA courses since 2005
• Over 300 instructors within Scotland

Description: The Scottish government adopted the Mental Health First Aid Program as part of “Choose Life, A National Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent Suicide in Scotland”. In 2003, Betty Kitchener travelled to Scotland to train instructors as part of a pilot of MHFA in Scotland. An independent evaluation of this pilot reported favourably on the training course. A decision was then taken by the Scottish government to “tartanize” the course and roll it out nationally. In October 2004, Betty participated in a training course in Edinburgh to establish 6 Trainers of MHFA Instructors in Scotland. The Scottish MHFA (SMHFA) Program was launched nationally on 20 June 2005. SMHFA is being rolled out across Scotland by NHS Health Scotland, as part of the work of the Scottish Executive’s national programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being. NHS Health Scotland launched revised materials after an 18-month review of the course and support materials and re-trained instructors to deliver the course. An Equality and Diversity Impact Assessment Report (EQIA) was completed on course material to ensure no discrimination occurs in the way the program is carried out and wherever possible, equality is promoted.

Info last updated: May 2011

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Mental Health First Aid Singapore

Coordinating body: Mental Health First Aid Singapore
Website: www.mhfa.sg
Launched: 2007
Program delivered: Standard MHFA, MHFA Older Persons (OP), MHFA Medical
Contact: Dr Angelina Chan
Interesting stats:

• As of May 2010, MHFA Singapore has 38 instructors, and 7 who are further accredited to run the Older Person (OP) Module
• A MHFA Medical Module was launched as a half day programme to increase skills of GPs in the community
• The logo specially chosen and designed to represent Mental Health First Aid Singapore is the water hyacinth, as a symbol of resilience and hope for Mental Health First Aid Singapore.

Description: Mental Health First Aid Singapore commenced in 2006 when Len Kanowski trained and accredited seven MHFA instructors at the National University of Singapore (NUS). The initial training program was organised by Jeannie Koh from NUS in conjunction with MHFA Australia. The Singapore instructors came from a range of organisations including NUS, the mental health NGO Silver Ribbon Singapore and other community based organisations. MHFA Singapore became an official entity in July 2007 after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between MHFA Australia and Changi General Hospital.

Since its commencement, MHFA Singapore has developed a Singapore version of the MHFA Course, which involved adapting the original manual to local context and producing training videos for the 12-hour course. Len trained another 11 instructors in July 07 and accredited trainers to be able to conduct the MHFA Singapore instructor training courses. MHFA Singapore then trained and accredited additional local instructors in Nov 08 and Jan 09. Other developments since the establishment of MHFA Singapore include:

• The commencement of an ongoing evaluation of the program
• The launch of MHFA Older Person module in Nov 2008, focusing on issues specific to the elderly
• The appointment of two administrative executive staff to assist with administration and business management.
• Liaison with MHFA Australia to establish the MHFA course in Cambodia
• The establishment of a module on MHFA for Doctors
• The development of MHFA Youth for Singapore to be launched in 2011
• Translation of MHFA Singapore Adult module into Mandarin

Info last updated: Nov 2012

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MHFA South Africa

Coordinating body: Mental Health First Aid South Africa
Website: www.mhfasa.co.za
Launched: 2009
Program delivered: Standard MHFA
Contact: Malik Vazi

Interesting stats:

• 1 in 3 adults in South Africa will suffer from a mental health disorder in their lifetime
• The MHFA program is accredited with the local Health Professional Council for 16 credits in the Continuous Professional Development space.

Description:

MHFA South Africa was launched in February 2009 in Johannesburg, South Africa, with the support of various non government organisations and Betty Kitchener. Mental Health First Aid South Africa is a stand-alone registered non-profit-organisation, after starting out as a division of Zeal Health Innovations.  The current cohort of MHFA instructors has been selected to deliver the program in various ethnic languages in anticipation of a roll out to rural areas. An art competition was held to source images from people experiencing mental illness for the MHFA South Africa manual and marketing material was well received by support groups across the country. Given the severe lack of resources in the mental health area in South Africa, the program has received positive support from both national and provincial governments. There are currently 5 core trainers and more train the instructor activities are planned.

Info last updated: May 2011

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MHFA Sri Lanka
Description:

Prior to 2011, MHFA for medical doctors was offered as postgraduate training at Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL), a government funded university with approximately 1500 academic staff and 1200 non-academic staff. MHFA for medical doctors is not currently offered at OUSL. Currently, an adapted version of MHFA for home-based caregivers (specifically elderly caregivers along with other nursing care) is offered through the Department of Health Science, OUSL. The previous Head of the this department, Hemamala Vithanarachchi, is now the head of the Nursing Department in a newly established university called KAATSU International University (KIU), where she hopes to develop MHFA training for nurses (depending on support and funding).

Info last updated: 5th Nov 2012

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MHFA Sweden

Coordinating body: The National Prevention of Suicide and Mental Ill-Health (NASP) at the Karolinska Institutet
Website: www.mhfa.se
Program: Standard MHFA, Youth MHFA

Description: The National Prevention of Suicide and Mental Ill-Health (NASP) at the Karolinska Institutet, a major medical education and research centre in Stockholm, Sweden has received a Governmental request to pilot test  an adapted version of both the Standard and the Youth MHFA Programs. Professor Danuta Wasserman, Head of NASP has obtained some funding to help adapt and roll out a suitable MHFA program for members of the public in  Sweden. NASP will be in charge of the adaptation of the intervention and of the implementation of the pilot-testing in one county in Sweden, while the University of Lund will be in charge of the evaluation process of this pilot-study. In 2010, Betty Kitchener and Dr Claire Kelly conducted 5 days of training and consultation in Stockholm to a Swedish team which will then undertake the modification and translation for a MHFA Sweden Program.

Info last updated: May 2011

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Mental Health First Aid USA

Coordinating body: A collaboration between the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Missouri Department of Mental health and the National Council for Community Behavioural Healthcare
Website: www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org
Launched: 2009
Program delivered: Standard MHFA
Contact: Susan Partain

Interesting stats:

• On the 16th January 2013, as part of his ‘Now is the Time’ (to take action against gun violence) plan, US President Barack Obama endorsed MHFA training to help teachers, staff and other adults interacting with young people, to recognise the signs and symptoms of mental illnesses and to assist them with finding appropriate treatment. More info at the MHFA Blog here
• MHFA USA is the only program in the world that exists in a non-single-payer environment, having multiple funding sources from Federal, State and non-profit
• As of 2012, more than 1,850 instructors have trained over 50,000 first aiders in the US

Description:
The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare has partnered state governments in Maryland and Missouri to ensure a clear, evidence-based and unified MHFA curriculum in the United States. The process began in 2008 with the three separate entities developing the program independently, then involved into a comprehensive process to ensure the program is delivered consistently across the USA. The program was piloted in 2008 and national teaching materials published in 2009, the core materials being developed in consultation with a variety of professionals, mental health consumers and the Australian founders. The program has a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA) to codify certification standards, develop program fidelity measures and do a formal program evaluation. The three US entities has had particular success with the Aging, Military Veterans, Colleges and Universities, Primary School groups, Faith Based groups and Law Enforcement and Corrections.

In early 2013, The National Council Magazine devoted their Special 5th Anniversary edition to Mental Health First Aid USA, featuring contributions from MHFA Australia. Find it here

Info last updated: May 2011

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Mental Health First Aid Wales
Coordinating body: Mind Cymru
Website: www.mhfa-wales.org.uk
Launched: 2008
Program delivered: Standard MHFA, Youth MHFA
Contact: Claire Foster (Project Manager)

Interesting stats:

• One in four people in Wales are affected by mental health problems each year
• The Welsh Mental Health First Aid (Wales) Manual is bilingual (Welsh and English)
• 119 Instructors have trained around 10,000 people

Description:

MHFA Wales is a Welsh Government project and is part of the Suicide Strategy for Wales. The Welsh Government, in collaboration with Mind Cymru, launched MHFA Wales in April 2008 with the recruitment and training of the National Training Team (4 National Trainers, including one Welsh speaker). The Welsh MHFA Manual is bilingual (in Welsh and English), and has been slightly adapted to cater for the needs of the population living in Wales. As of 2010 the project has trained 119 Instructors, 64 currently approved who are delivering courses to the people living throughout Wales. Over 10,000 participants have attended the 12-hour course. The Youth MHFA course was launched in 2010; 43 instructors are approved to roll out the course.

Info last updated: Nov 2012

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