Our Research
Research has been conducted all over the world on the effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid courses. The following is a list of publications from recent years related to Mental Health First Aid research and evaluation.
Global Movement
Delivered in more than 27 countries, with over 6 million people trained worldwide.
Unparalleled Reach
Courses adapted to different countries, communities, cohorts and participants.
Evidence-based
Award-winning course curriculum informed by guidelines developed using the Delphi Consensus Method.
Lived experience
Guided by the voice of people with lived experience of mental health problems, their caregivers, and professional experts.
Research
Some publications report on systematic reviews or randomised controls trails, supporting the rigour of the training intervention. Other research focus on particular areas of the course and help answer more specific questions. In addition to peer-reviewed academic studies, some publications are in the form of editorials, reports of thesis; these also provide valuable insights into local and international MHFA programs. The lists below are organised by theme.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
View Research
Armstrong, G., Sutherland, G., Pross, E., Mackinnon, A., Reavley, N., & Jorm, A. F. (2020). Talking about suicide: An uncontrolled trial of the effects of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health first aid program on knowledge, attitudes and intended and actual assisting actions. PLOS ONE, 15(12), e0244091. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244091
Auger, M., Crooks, C. V., Lapp, A., Tsuruda, S., Caron, C., Rogers, B. J., & van der Woerd, K. (2019). The essential role of cultural safety in developing culturally-relevant prevention programming in First Nations communities: Lessons learned from a national evaluation of Mental Health First Aid First Nations. Evaluation and Program Planning, 72, 188–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2018.10.016
Crooks, C. V., Lapp, A., Auger, M., van der Woerd, K., Snowshoe, A., Rogers, B. J., Tsuruda, S., & Caron, C. (2018). A feasibility trial of Mental Health First Aid First Nations: acceptability, cultural adaptation, and preliminary outcomes. American Journal of Community Psychology, 61(3–4), 459–471. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12241; A full report is available here: https://www.csmh.uwo.ca/docs/mhfa_fn/MHFA-FN—Comprehensive-Report.pdf
Day, A., Casey, S., Baird, M., Geia, L., & Wanganeen, R. (2021). Evaluation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid Program. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 45(1), 46–52. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.13064
Day, A., & Francisco, A. (2013). Social and emotional wellbeing in Indigenous Australians: Identifying promising interventions. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 37(4), 350-355. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12083
Delaney, A., Auger, M., van der Woerd, K., & Crooks, C. V. (2021). “This person is still here with us today”: A qualitative follow-up with Mental Health First Aid First Nations training participants. Mental Health & Prevention, 22, 200199. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MHP.2021.200199
Kanowski, L. G., Jorm, A. F., & Hart, L. M. (2009). A mental health first aid training program for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: Description and initial evaluation. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 3(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-4458-3-10
Community
Rural
Anderson, R. J., & Pierce, D. (2012). Assumptions associated with mental health literacy training – insights from initiatives in rural Australia. Advances in Mental Health, 10(3), 258–267. https://doi.org/10.5172/jamh.2012.10.3.258
Boulden, R., & Schimmel, C. (2024). Addressing the Rural Youth Mental Health Crisis Through Youth Mental Health First Aid. The Rural Educator, 45(2), 61-67. https://doi.org/10.55533/2643-9662.1413
Forthal, S., Sadowska, K., Pike, K. M., Balachander, M., Jacobsson, K., & Hermosilla, S. (2021). Mental Health First Aid: A systematic review of trainee behavior and recipient mental health outcomes. Psychiatric Services. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.202100027 (in drought-affected rural and remote Australia)
Hossain, D., Gorman, D., & Eley, R. (2009). Enhancing the knowledge and skills of Advisory and Extension Agents in mental health issues of farmers. Australasian Psychiatry, 17(SUPPL. 1), S116–S120. https://doi.org/10.1080/10398560902948365
Hossain, D., Gorman, D., Eley, R., & Coutts, J. (2009). Farm Advisors’ reflections on Mental Health First Aid training. Australian E-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health, 8(1), 105–111. https://doi.org/10.5172/jamh.8.1.105
Hossain, D., Gorman, D., Eley, R., & Coutts, J. (2010). Value of mental health first aid training of advisory and extension agents in supporting farmers in rural Queensland. Rural and Remote Health, 10(4), 1593–1603. https://eprints.usq.edu.au/18147/
Jorm, A. F., Kitchener, B. A., O’Kearney, R., & Dear, K. B. G. (2004). Mental health first aid training of the public in a rural area: A cluster randomized trial [ISRCTN53887541]. BMC Psychiatry, 4(1), 33. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-4-33
Pierce, D., Liaw, S. T., Dobell, J., & Anderson, R. (2010). Australian rural football club leaders as mental health advocates: An investigation of the impact of the Coach the Coach project. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 4(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-4458-4-10
Robertson, M. N., DeShong, H. L., Steen, J. S., Buys, D. R., & Nadorff, M. R. (2021). Mental health first aid training for Extension agents in rural communities. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 51(2), 301–307. https://doi.org/10.1111/SLTB.12705
Sartore, G. M., Kelly, B., Stain, H. J., Fuller, J., Fragar, L., & Tonna, A. (2008). Improving mental health capacity in rural communities: Mental health first aid delivery in drought-affected rural New South Wales. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 16(5). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1584.2008.01005.x
Older Person / elderly
Lyons, J., Bond, K., Kitchener, B., Cottrill, F., Jorm, A., Rossetto, A., Kelly, C., Reavley, N., & Morgan, A. (2025). Evaluation of the Older Person Mental Health First Aid Course: Effects on Knowledge, Stigmatizing Attitudes, and Helping Behaviors. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648251352309
Svensson, B., & Hansson, L. (2017). Mental health first aid for the elderly: A pilot study of a training program adapted for helping elderly people. Aging and Mental Health, 21(6), 595–601. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2015.1135873
Other community
Al-Habeeb, A. A., Aleshaiwi, H. S., & Qureshi, N. A. (2020). Mental Health First Aid Training: A study of community members’ pre and post-training responses to a 17-item questionnaire. International Neuropsychiatric Disease Journal, 14(1), 16–31. https://doi.org/10.9734/indj/2020/v14i130119
Costello, J., Hays, K., & Gamez, A. M. (2021). Using mental health first aid to promote mental health in churches. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 23(4), 381–392. https://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2020.1771234
Diprose Adams, S. H. G. (2019). Mental health first aid for firearm owners: Addressing the elephant in the room. Alternative Law Journal, 44(4), 308–313. https://doi.org/10.1177/1037969X19856758
Gurung, A., Subedi, P., Zhang, M., Li, C., Kelly, T., Kim, C., & Yun, K. (2020). Culturally-appropriate orientation increases the effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid training for Bhutanese refugees: results from a multi-state program evaluation. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 22, 957–964. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-020-00986-8
Hawkin, N., & Birmingham and Solihul Mental Health Foundation Trust (2013). The use of Mental Health First Aid in supporting people working in the Prevent agenda. Available from: https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/research-and-evaluation/bsmhft-and-counter-terrorism-unit-mhfa-course-feedback/
Lam, A. Y. K., Jorm, A. F., & Wong, D. F. K. (2010). Mental health first aid training for the Chinese community in Melbourne, Australia: Effects on knowledge about and attitudes toward people with mental illness. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 4(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-4458-4-18
Minas, H., Colucci, E., & Jorm, A. F. (2009). Evaluation of Mental Health First Aid training with members of the Vietnamese community in Melbourne, Australia. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 3(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-4458-3-19
Morawska, A., Fletcher, R., Pope, S., Heathwood, E., Anderson, E., & Mcauliffe, C. (2013). Evaluation of mental health first aid training in a diverse community setting. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 22(1), 85–92. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0349.2012.00844.x
Nepal, B., Khadka, G., Jorm, A. F., Simkhada, J., Gauli, N., & Hall, N. (2023). Mental Health First Aid Training with the Nepalese Community in Australia: An Evaluation of Effects on Knowledge, Confidence, Intentions, Willingness to have Contact and Stigmatizing Attitudes. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 25(2), 398–405. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-022-01397-7
Rossetto, A., Jorm, A. F., & Reavley, N. J. (2018). Developing a model of help giving towards people with a mental health problem: A qualitative study of Mental Health First Aid participants. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 12(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-018-0228-9
Uribe Guajardo, M. G., Slewa-Younan, S., Kitchener, B. A., Mannan, H., Mohammad, Y., & Jorm, A. F. (2018). Improving the capacity of community-based workers in Australia to provide initial assistance to Iraqi refugees with mental health problems: An uncontrolled evaluation of a Mental Health Literacy Course. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 12(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-018-0180-8
Vang-Kue, M., McNeill, C., & Stephens, U. (2025). Improving Mental Health Literacy and Stigma Among the Hmong. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 10783903241277344. https://doi.org/10.1177/10783903241277344
Zhuang, X. Y., Wong, D. F. K., Ng, T. K., & Poon, A. (2020). Effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid for Chinese-Speaking International Students in Melbourne. Research on Social Work Practice, 30(3), 275–287. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731519890398
Educational Settings
School-based programs
Atkins, J. (2017). Mental Health First Aid: A useful tool for school nurses. NASN School Nurse, 32(6), 361–363. https://doi.org/10.1177/1942602X17722390
Hart, L. M., Cox, G. R., & Lees, L. (2018). Teaching mental health first aid in the school setting: A novel approach to improving outcomes for common adolescent mental disorders. Current Opinion in Pediatrics, 30(4), 478-482. https://doi.org/10.1097/MOP.0000000000000639
Jorm, A. F., Kitchener, B. A., Sawyer, M. G., Scales, H., & Cvetkovski, S. (2010). Mental health first aid training for high school teachers: A cluster randomized trial. BMC Psychiatry, 10(1), 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-10-51
Kidger, J., Stone, T., Tilling, K., Brockman, R., Campbell, R., Ford, T., Hollingworth, W., King, M., Araya, R., & Gunnell, D. (2016). A pilot cluster randomised controlled trial of a support and training intervention to improve the mental health of secondary school teachers and students – the WISE (Wellbeing in Secondary Education) study. BMC Public Health, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3737-y
Lu, S., Hart, L. M., Jorm, A. F., Gregg, K. & Morgan, A. J. (2024). Associations of Adolescent Mental Health First Aid Intentions and Help-Giving Behaviours: A School-Based Longitudinal Study. School Mental Health: A Multidisciplinary Research and Practice Journal, 16(1), 137-148. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-023-09625-7
Ma, K. K. Y., Anderson, J. K., & Burn, A.-M. (2022). Review: School-based interventions to improve mental health literacy and reduce mental health stigma – a systematic review. Child and Adolescent Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12543
Marsico, K. F., Wang, C., & Liu, J. L. (2022). Effectiveness of Youth Mental Health First Aid training for parents at school. Psychology in the Schools, 1–16. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22717
Ng, S. H., Tan, N. J. H., Luo, Y., Goh, W. S., Ho, R., & Ho, C. S. H. (2021). A systematic review of Youth and Teen Mental Health First Aid: Improving adolescent mental health. Journal of Adolescent Health, 69(2), 199–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.10.018
Patafio, B., Miller, P., Baldwin, R., Taylor, N., & Hyder, S. (2021). A systematic mapping review of interventions to improve adolescent mental health literacy, attitudes and behaviours. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 15, 1470–1501. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.13109
Singh, D. (2017). Supporting students and promoting mental health: Experiences of secondary school MHFA-certified teachers. Unpublished thesis. Available from: https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/77196/1/Singh_Devan_201706_MT_MTRP.pdf
Uribe Guajardo, M. G., Kelly, C., Bond, K., Thomson, R., & Slewa-Younan, S. (2019). An evaluation of the teen and Youth Mental Health First Aid training with a CALD focus: An uncontrolled pilot study with adolescents and adults in Australia. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 13(1), 73. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-019-0329-0; A full report is available here: https://researchdirect.westernsydney.edu.au/islandora/object/uws:52086/
Wachutka, K. (2022). Mental Health First Aid (MHFA): Implementing an Evidence-Based Practice Change Initiative in a School Setting. Unpublished thesis. Available from: https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1103&context=son_dnp
Waqas, A., Malik, S., Fida, A., Abbas, N., Mian, N., Miryala, S., Amray, A. N., Shah, Z., & Naveed, S. (2020). Interventions to reduce stigma related to mental illnesses in educational institutes: a systematic review. Psychiatric Quarterly, 91, 887–903. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-020-09751-4
Teen
Costa, T. F. O., Sampaio, F. M. C., Sequeira, C. A. da C., Lluch Canut, M. T., & Moreno Poyato, A. R. (2021). A qualitative study exploring adolescents’ perspective about Mental Health First Aid Training Programmes promoted by nurses in upper secondary schools. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 31, 326–338. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12959
Hart, L. M., Mason, R. J., Kelly, C. M., Cvetkovski, S., & Jorm, A. F. (2016). “teen Mental Health First Aid”: A description of the program and an initial evaluation. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 10(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-016-0034-1
Hart, L. M., Morgan, A. J., Rossetto, A., Kelly, C. M., Mackinnon, A., & Jorm, A. F. (2018). Helping adolescents to better support their peers with a mental health problem: A cluster-randomised crossover trial of teen Mental Health First Aid. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 52(7), 638–651. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867417753552
Hart, L. M., Bond, K. S., Morgan, A. J., Rossetto, A., Cottrill, F. A., Kelly, C. M., & Jorm, A. F. (2019). Teen Mental Health First Aid for years 7–9: A description of the program and an initial evaluation. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 13(1), 71. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-019-0325-4
Hart, L. M., Cropper, P., Morgan, A. J., Kelly, C. M., & Jorm, A. F. (2020). teen Mental Health First Aid as a school-based intervention for improving peer support of adolescents at risk of suicide: Outcomes from a cluster randomised crossover trial. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 54(4), 382–392. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867419885450
Hart, L. M., Morgan, A. J., Rossetto, A., Kelly, C. M., Gregg, K., Gross, M., Johnson, C., & Jorm, A. F. (2022). teen Mental Health First Aid: 12-month outcomes from a cluster crossover randomized controlled trial evaluation of a universal program to help adolescents better support peers with a mental health problem. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 1159. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13554-6
Johnson, C. L., Hart, L. M., Rossetto, A., Morgan, A. J., & Jorm, A. F. (2021). Lessons learnt from the field: a qualitative evaluation of adolescent experiences of a universal mental health education program. Health Education Research, 36(1), 126–139. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyaa050
Youth
Aakre, J. M., Lucksted, A., & Browning-McNee, L. A. (2016). Evaluation of Youth Mental Health First Aid USA: A program to assist young people in psychological distress. Psychological Services, 13(2), 121–126. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000063
Borrill, J., & Kuczynska, P. (2013). Evaluation of Youth Mental Health First Aid Training in the North-East of England. Available from: https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/research-and-evaluation/ne-england-youth-mhfa-evaluation/
Childs, K. K., Gryglewicz, K., & Elligson, R. (2020). An assessment of the utility of the Youth Mental Health First Aid training: Effectiveness, satisfaction, and universality. Community Mental Health Journal, 56(8), 1581–1591. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10597-020-00612-9
Elligson, R. L., Childs, K. K., & Gryglewicz, K. (2021). Youth Mental Health First Aid: Examining the influence of pre-existing attitudes and knowledge on training effectiveness. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 42(6), 549–565. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-021-00645-0
Geierstanger, S., Yu, J., Saphir, M., & Soleimanpour, S. (2024). Youth Mental Health First Aid Training: Impact on the Ability to Recognize and Support Youth Needs. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 51(4), 588–598. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-024-09893-4
Gryglewicz, K., Childs, K. K., & Soderstrom, M. F. P. (2018). An evaluation of Youth Mental Health First Aid training in school settings. School Mental Health, 10(1), 48–60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-018-9246-7
Haggerty, D., Carlson, J. S., McNall, M., Lee, K. S., & Williams, S. (2019). Exploring Youth Mental Health First Aider training outcomes by workforce affiliation: a survey of Project AWARE participants. School Mental Health, 11(2), 345–356. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-018-9300-5
Havewala, M., Wang, C., Bali, D., & Chronis-Tuscano, A. (2022). Evaluation of the Virtual Youth Mental Health First Aid Training for Asian Americans During COVID-19. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 8(3), 321–334. https://doi.org/10.1080/23794925.2022.2111727
Kelly, C. M., Mithen, J. M., Fischer, J. A., Kitchener, B. A., Jorm, A. F., Lowe, A., & Scanlan, C. (2011). Youth mental health first aid: A description of the program and an initial evaluation. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 5(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-4458-5-4
Khoo, O. K. C., Arora, P. G., Caindec, D. D. G., Rajan, S., & Huang, C. Y. (2025). Youth mental health first aid for educators of immigrant-origin youth: A mixed-method evaluation of the virtual delivery approach. School Psychology. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/spq0000687
Marsico, K. F. (2020). Outcomes of Youth Mental Health First Aid USA with parents: examining beliefs, behaviours and knowledge. Unpublished thesis. Available: https://drum.lib.umd.edu/bitstream/handle/1903/26436/Marsico_umd_0117E_21001.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y
Marsico, K. F., Wang, C., & Liu, J. L. (2022). Effectiveness of Youth Mental Health First Aid training for parents at school. Psychology in the Schools, 59(8), 1701–1716. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22717
Morgan, A. J., Fischer, J.-A. A., Hart, L. M., Kelly, C. M., Kitchener, B. A., Reavley, N. J., Yap, M. B. H., Cvetkovski, S., & Jorm, A. F. (2019). Does Mental Health First Aid training improve the mental health of aid recipients? The training for parents of teenagers randomised controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2085-8
Morgan, A. J., Fischer, J.-A. A., Hart, L. M., Kelly, C. M., Kitchener, B. A., Reavley, N. J., Yap, M. B. H., & Jorm, A. F. (2020). Long-term effects of Youth Mental Health First Aid training: randomized controlled trial with 3-year follow-up. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1), 487. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02860-1
Noltemeyer, A., Huang, H., Meehan, C., Jordan, E., Morio, K., Shaw, K., & Oberlin, K. (2019). Youth mental health first aid: Initial outcomes of a statewide rollout in Ohio. Journal of Applied School Psychology, 36(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/15377903.2019.1619645
*O’Neill, S. J. (2025). Mind Matters: Investigating the Impact of Mental Health First Aid Training on High School Staff (Doctoral dissertation, Rowan University). Available at: https://www.proquest.com/openview/052eb4f9da0895476e444a96a358409c/1?cbl=18750&diss=y&pq-origsite=gscholar
Roberts-Holmes, G., Mayer, S., Jones, P., & Lee, S. F. (2018). Evaluation of Phase One of the Youth MHFA in Schools programme: “The training has given us a vocabulary to use.” Available from: https://mhfastorage.blob.core.windows.net/mhfastoragecontainer/5603f429f9cae811814fe0071b668081/Youth-MHFA-in-Schools-programme-UCL-evaluation-report.pdf
Rose, T., Leitch, J., Collins, K. S., Frey, J. J., & Osteen, P. J. (2019). Effectiveness of Youth Mental Health First Aid USA for Social Work Students. Research on Social Work Practice, 29(3), 291–302. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731517729039
Sánchez, A. M., Latimer, J. D., Scarimbolo, K., von der Embse, N. P., Suldo, S. M., & Salvatore, C. R. (2021). Youth Mental Health First Aid (Y-MHFA) trainings for educators: A systematic review. School Mental Health, 13, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-020-09393-8
Tyler, J. (2020). Exploring the use of Youth Mental Health First Aid skills in schools. Unpublished thesis. Available from https://doi.org/10.57709/15666383
Tertiary
Ashoorian, D., Albrecht, K. L., Baxter, C., Giftakis, E., Clifford, R., Greenwell-Barnden, J., & Wylde, T. (2019). Evaluation of Mental Health First Aid skills in an Australian university population. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 13(5), 1121–1128. https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.12742
Carpini, J. A., Chandra, J., Lin, J., Teo, R., Truong, N., Boyne, E., Wylde, T., Clifford, R., & Ashoorian, D. (2021). Mental health first aid by Australian tertiary staff: Application rates, modes, content, and outcomes. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 15, 1234–1242. https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.13072
Cregan, K., Phipps, D., Lowndes, J., & Bolat, S. (2016). Higher Education Mental Health First Aid – Phase 1 Evaluation Report. Available from: https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/research-and-evaluation/he-mhfa-pilot/
Dzemaili, S., Pasquier, J., Oulevey Bachmann, A., & Mohler-Kuo, M. (2023). The Effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid Training among Undergraduate Students in Switzerland: A Randomized Control Trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021303
El-Den, S., Moles, R., Choong, H. J., & O’Reilly, C. (2020). Mental Health First Aid training and assessment among university students: A systematic review. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 60(5), e81–e95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2019.12.017
Johns, S. (2020). A mixed-methods approach to understanding factors that impact confidence to offer support to college students with mental health concerns. Unpublished thesis. Available from: https://search.proquest.com/openview/9c05318e0abe371fbe588542d4cd0d4c/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
Kelly, C. M., Kitchener, B. A., & Jorm, A. F. (2020). Using Mental Health First Aid to support young people. In A. R. Yung, J. Cotter, & P. D. McGorry (Eds.), Youth Mental Health: Approaches to Emerging Mental Ill-Health in Young People (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429285806
Liang, M., Chen, Q., Guo, J., Mei, Z., Wang, J., Zhang, Y., He, L., & Li, Y. (2021). Mental health first aid improves mental health literacy among college students: A meta-analysis. Journal of American College Health, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1925286
Liang, M., Chen, Q., Guo, J., Mei, Z., Wang, J., Zhang, Y., He, L., & Li, Y. (2023). Mental health first aid improves mental health literacy among college students: A meta-analysis. Journal of American College Health, 71(4), 1196–1205. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1925286
Lipson, S. K., Speer, N., Brunwasser, S., Hahn, E., & Eisenberg, D. (2014). Gatekeeper training and access to mental health care at universities and colleges. Journal of Adolescent Health, 55(5), 612–619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.05.009
Mantzios, M. (2020). Mental health first aid and exciting opportunities for peer-support networks within universities with prospects of influencing public health and treatment. Journal of Public Health, 28(2), 219–221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-019-01057-5
Massey, J., Brooks, M., & Burrow, J. (2014). Evaluating the effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid training among student affairs staff at a Canadian university. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 51(3), 323–336. https://doi.org/10.1515/jsarp-2014-0032
Rodgers, G., Burns, S., & Crawford, G. (2021). “I was able to actually do something useful”: evaluating the experiences of university students after completing Mental Health First Aid: a mixed-methods study. Advances in Mental Health, 19(1), 40–62. https://doi.org/10.1080/18387357.2019.1663709
Health Professionals
Medical
Bond, K. S., Jorm, A. F., Kitchener, B. A., & Reavley, N. J. (2015). Mental health first aid training for Australian medical and nursing students: An evaluation study. BMC Psychology, 3(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/S40359-015-0069-0
Davies, E. B., Beever, E., & Glazebrook, C. (2018). A pilot randomised controlled study of the mental health first aid eLearning course with UK medical students. BMC Medical Education, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-018-1154-x
Kandola, H. S., & Minhas, S. (2022). First aid for mental health: Training for medical student well-being. Academic Medicine, 97(3), 320. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000004544
Kato, T. A., Suzuki, Y., Sato, R., Fujisawa, D., Uehara, K., Hashimoto, N., Sawayama, Y., Hayashi, J., Kanba, S., & Otsuka, K. (2010). Development of 2-hour suicide intervention program among medical residents: First pilot trial. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 64(5), 531–540. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1819.2010.02114.x
Traylor, D., Anderson, E., Hodges, A., & Kirby, D. (2025). Integrating mental health first aid training into medical education. Education for Health, 38(1), 82–87. https://doi.org/10.62694/efh.2025.136
Nursing
Bonnar, F. (2015). Mental Health First Aid: Triage for the mind. British Journal of Nursing, 24(14), 724–724. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2015.24.14.724
Burns, S., Crawford, G., Hallett, J., Hunt, K., Chih, H. J., & Tilley, P. J. M. (2017). What’s wrong with John? a randomised controlled trial of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training with nursing students. BMC Psychiatry, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1278-2
Costa, T. F. O., Sampaio, F. M. C., Sequeira, C. A. da C., Lluch Canut, M. T., & Moreno Poyato, A. R. (2022). Nurses’ perspective about the Mental Health First Aid Training Programmes for adolescents in upper secondary schools: A focus group study. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12823
Costa, T. F. O., Sampaio, F. M. C., Sequeira, C. A. da C., Ribeiro, I. M. O. C., & Parola, V. S. de O. (2021). Review of Mental Health First Aid programs. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 43(12), 1146–1156. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193945920980743
Crawford, G., & Burns, S. (2020). Confidence and motivation to help those with a mental health problem: Experiences from a study of nursing students completing mental health first aid (MHFA) training. BMC Medical Education, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-1983-2
Fessey, V., James, G., & Pengelly, T. (2016). Mental health first aid: Equipping the nurses of the future. British Journal of Nursing, 25(15), 858–859. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2016.25.15.858
Happell, B., Wilson, R., & McNamara, P. (2015). Undergraduate mental health nursing education in Australia: More than Mental Health First Aid. Collegian, 22(4), 433–438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2014.07.003
Hung, M. S. Y., Lam, S. K. K., & Chow, M. C. M. (2019). Nursing students’ experiences of mental health first aid training: A qualitative descriptive study. Collegian, 26(5), 534–540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2019.02.006
Kelly, J., & Birks, M. (2017). ‘It’s the simple things you do first that start the process of help’: Undergraduate nursing and midwifery students’ experiences of the Mental Health First Aid course. Collegian, 24(3), 275–280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2016.04.004
Kitchener, B. A., & Jorm, A. F. (2017). The role of Mental Health First Aid training in nursing education: A response to Happell, Wilson & McNamara (2015). Collegian, 24(3), 313–315. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2016.06.002
Loureiro, L. M., & Freitas, P. M. (2020). Effectiveness of the mental health first aid program in undergraduate nursing students. Revista de Enfermagem Referência, 5(1), e19078. https://doi.org/10.12707/RIV19078
Wai Yee, M. (2018). Exploring the impact of Mental Health First Aid on nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes: A randomised controlled trial. Unpublished thesis. https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/866085
Pharmacy
Advincula, T. J., Abubakar, M., & Carandang, R. R. (2025). Effects of Mental Health First Aid Training in Hospital and Community Pharmacists: A Systematic Review. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2025.102344
Boukouvalas, E. A., El-Den, S., Chen, T. F., Moles, R., Saini, B., Bell, A., & O’Reilly, C. L. (2018). Confidence and attitudes of pharmacy students towards suicidal crises: patient simulation using people with a lived experience. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 53(11), 1185–1195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-018-1582-2
Carpini, J. A., Sharma, A., Kubicki Evans, M., Jumani, S., Boyne, E., Clifford, R., & Ashoorian, D. (2023). Pharmacists and Mental Health First Aid training: A comparative analysis of confidence, mental health assistance behaviours and perceived barriers. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 17(7), 670–680. https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.13361
Chowdhary, A., Zlotnikova, V., Lucas, C., & Lonie, J. M. (2019). How do mental health first aid TM interventions influence patient help-seeking behaviours? A dilemma for pharmacist mental health first aid responders. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 15(1), 106–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2018.02.010
Crespo-Gonzalez, C., Dineen-Griffin, S., Rae, J., & Hill, R. A. (2022). Mental health training programs for community pharmacists, pharmacy staff and students: A systematic review. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2022.06.006
Dulellari, S., Vesey, M., Mason, N. A., Marshall, V. D., & Bostwick, J. R. (2022). Needs assessment and impact of mental health training among doctor of pharmacy students. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2022.06.003
El-Den, S., Chen, T. F., Moles, R. J., & O’Reilly, C. (2018). Assessing Mental Health First Aid skills using simulated patients. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 82(2), 6222. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe6222
El-Den, S., O’Reilly, C. L., & Chen, T. F. (2016). Does Mental Health First Aid training affect MPharm students’ literacy, knowledge and attitudes towards perinatal depression? A pre-test/post-test pilot study. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 12(5), e26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2016.05.066
Frick, A., Osae, L., Ngo, S., Anksorus, H., Williams, C. R., Rodgers, P. T., & Harris, S. (2021). Establishing the role of the pharmacist in mental health: Implementing Mental Health First Aid into the doctor of pharmacy core curriculum. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 13(6), 608–615. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CPTL.2021.01.027
Kirschbaum, M., Peterson, G., & Bridgman, H. (2016). Mental health first aid training needs of Australian community pharmacists. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 8(3), 279–288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2016.02.015
McCormack, Z., Gilbert, J. L., Ott, C., & Plake, K. S. (2018). Mental health first aid training among pharmacy and other university students and its impact on stigma toward mental illness. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 10(10), 1342–1347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2018.07.001
McMillan, S. S., El-Den, S., O’Reilly, C. L., Roennfeldt, H., Theodorus, T., Chapman, J., Bailey, K., Crump, K., Collins, J. C., Ng, R., Stewart, V., & Wheeler, A. J. (2022). A training programme for community pharmacists to support people living with severe and persistent mental illness: Intervention mapping in the context of a pandemic. Health Education Journal, 81(8), 964–981. https://doi.org/10.1177/00178969221130461
Ng, R., O’Reilly, C. L., Collins, J. C., Roennfeldt, H., McMillan, S. S., Wheeler, A. J., & El-Den, S. (2023). Mental Health First Aid crisis role-plays between pharmacists and simulated patients with lived experience: a thematic analysis of debrief. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 58(9), 1365–1373. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-023-02443-x
Nguyen, W., Moles, R., O’Reilly, C., Robinson, J., Brand-Eubanks, D., Kim, A., Collins, J. C., & El-Den, S. (2022). Observed behaviours and suicide assessment language post-Mental Health First Aid training in Australia and the United States: a mixed methods study using discourse analysis. BMC Medical Education, 22(1), 838. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03920-8
O’Reilly, C. L., Bell, J. S., Kelly, P. J., & Chen, T. F. (2011). Impact of mental health first aid training on pharmacy students’ knowledge, attitudes and self-reported behaviour: A controlled trial. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 45(7), 549–557. https://doi.org/10.3109/00048674.2011.585454
O’Reilly, C. L., Moles, R. J., Boukouvalas, E., & El-Den, S. (2019). Assessing students’ mental health crisis skills via consumers with lived experience: a qualitative evaluation. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, 14(5), 361–371. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-01-2019-0007
Pham, L., Moles, R. J., O’Reilly, C. L., Carrillo, M. J., & El-Den, S. (2022). Mental Health First Aid training and assessment in Australian medical, nursing and pharmacy curricula: a national perspective using content analysis. BMC Medical Education, 22(1), 70. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03131-1
Rickles, N., Wertheimer, A., & Huang, Y. (2019). Training community pharmacy staff how to help manage urgent mental health crises. Pharmacy, 7(3), 133. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy7030133
Shams, S., & Hattingh, H. L. (2020). Evaluation of mental health training for community pharmacy staff members and consumers. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 50(2), 160–165. https://doi.org/10.1002/jppr.1634
Witry, M. J., Fadare, O., & Pudlo, A. (2020). Pharmacy professionals’ preparedness to use Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) behaviors. Pharmacy Practice, 18(4), 2102. https://doi.org/10.18549/PharmPract.2020.4.2102
Witry, M., Karamese, H., & Pudlo, A. (2020). Evaluation of participant reluctance, confidence, and self-reported behaviors since being trained in a pharmacy Mental Health First Aid initiative. PLoS ONE, 15(5), e0232627. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232627
Physiotherapy
Edgar, S., & Connaughton, J. (2021). Using Mental Health First Aid training to improve the mental health literacy of physiotherapy students. Physiotherapy Canada, 73(2), 188–193. https://doi.org/10.3138/ptc-2019-0036
Psychology
Mantzios, M., Cook, A., & Egan, H. (2019). Mental health first aid embedment within undergraduate psychology curriculums: an opportunity of applied experience for psychology students and for enhancing mental health care in higher education institutions. Higher Education Pedagogies, 4(1), 307–310. https://doi.org/10.1080/23752696.2019.1640631
Social work
Martin, J. (2016). An exploratory study of the benefits of youth mental health literacy studies for social work students. Social Work in Mental Health, 14(1), 42–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332985.2015.1057312
The Health Profession
*Bandy, R. L. (2024). Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training of First Responders. Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. Available from: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6275&context=doctoral
Forbes, J., Noller, D. T., Henriquez, M., Scantamburlo, S., Ward, I., & Lee, H. (2022). Assessing the utility of mental health first aid training for physician assistant students. The Journal of Physician Assistant Education, 33(4), 325-330. https://doi.org/10.1097/jpa.0000000000000467
Hung, M. S. Y., Ng, W. W. M., & Choi, E. K. Y. (2024). Effects of Online Health Promotion Program to Improve the Health and Wellbeing of Healthcare Students: A Feasibility Study. Healthcare, 12(6), 682. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12060682
Lo, K., Ahern, G., Rossetto, A., & Farlie, M. K. (2023). Mental Health First Aid Training for Allied Health Clinical Educators: A Pre- and Post-Evaluation. Physiotherapy Canada, 76(1), 55–63. https://doi.org/10.3138/ptc-2021-0099
Ostrowski, J. L., Sampson, S., McGoldrick, E., Karabin, C., & Shields, K. (2023). Effects of Mental Health First Aid Course: Knowledge, Confidence, and Stigma Among Occupational Therapy Students. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 7 (2). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2023.070205
Pham, L., Moles, R. J., O’Reilly, C. L., Carrillo, M. J., & El-Den, S. (2022). Mental Health First Aid training and assessment in Australian medical, nursing and pharmacy curricula: a national perspective using content analysis. BMC Medical Education, 22(1), 70. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03131-1
Zeng, F., Zhong, D., Chen, X., Li, H., & Tian, X. (2022). Impact of mental health first aid training courses on patients’ mental health. Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience, 2022(1), 4623869. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4623869
Ariana, A. D., Ambarini, T. K., & Arbi, D. K. A. (2021). Mental Health First Aid training for health care workers in the primary health care center in Surabaya. Proceedings Series on Social Sciences & Humanities, 2, 149–152. https://doi.org/10.30595/PSSH.V2I.120
Lo, K., Gupta, T., & Keating, J. L. (2018). Interventions to promote mental health literacy in university students and their clinical educators. A systematic review of randomised control trials. Health Professions Education, 4(3), 161-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpe.2017.08.001
Mantzios, M., Cook, A., & Egan, H. (2019). Mental Health First Aid for students in the health professions: Exploring opportunities for experiential learning in higher education. Health Professions Education, 5(4), 281–282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpe.2019.03.001
Nakagami, Y., Kubo, H., Katsuki, R., Sakai, T., Sugihara, G., Naito, C., Oda, H., Hayakawa, K., Suzuki, Y., Fujisawa, D., Hashimoto, N., Kobara, K., Cho, T., Kuga, H., Takao, K., Kawahara, Y., Matsumura, Y., Murai, T., Akashi, K., … Kato, T. A. (2018). Development of a 2-h suicide prevention program for medical staff including nurses and medical residents: A two-center pilot trial. Journal of Affective Disorders, 225, 569–576. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.074
International
View International Research
Advincula, T. J., Abubakar, M., & Carandang, R. R. (2025). Effects of Mental Health First Aid Training in Hospital and Community Pharmacists: A Systematic Review. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2025.102344
Banh, M. K., Chaikind, J., Robertson, H. A., Troxel, M., Achille, J., Egan, C., & Anthony, B. J. (2019). Evaluation of Mental Health First Aid USA using the Mental Health Beliefs and Literacy Scale. American Journal of Health Promotion, 33(2), 237–247. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890117118784234
Bhakta, S., Tsao, E., & Stone, K. (2024). National mixed methods evaluation of Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid. Mental Health & Prevention, 35, 200358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200358
Borrill, J. (2011). Mental Health First Aid England and North East Mental Health Development Unit Partnership Project. Available from: https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/research-and-evaluation/mental-health-first-aid-north-east-england/
Brett-Jones, J. (2010). NHS Camden Mental Health First Aid Programme Review. Available from: https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/research-and-evaluation/nhs-camden-review/
Byrne, K., McGowan, I., & Cousins, W. (2015). Delivering mental health first aid: An exploration of instructors’ views. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 17(1), 3–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623730.2014.995422
Corona, R., McDonald, S. E., Hitti, S., Avila, M., Trujillo, M. A., Cox, J. R., Velazquez, E., Edgar, K., Hershner, L., Benzel, G. K., Matijczak, A., Gordon, C. A., Ascencio, I., Moreno, O., & Gonzalez, T. (2020). Training Spanish-speaking Latinx adults in Mental Health First Aid: A pilot feasibility trial. Journal of Psychological Research, 25(3), 260–271. https://doi.org/10.24839/2325-7342.JN25.3.260
Crisanti, A. S., Pasko, D. K., Pyeatt, C., Silverblatt, H., & Anastasoff, J. (2015). Dissemination challenges associated with mental health first aid in New Mexico: Insights from instructors. Journal of Rural Mental Health, 39(1), 13–21. https://doi.org/10.1037/rmh0000013
Ganshorn, H., & Michaud, N. (2012). Mental Health First Aid: An Evidence Review. Ottawa, Canada: Mental Health Commission of Canada; Available from: https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/sites/default/files/mhfa_evidence_review_eng_0_0_0.pdf
Heer, B. (2010). Mental Health First Aid training evaluation. Available from: https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/research-and-evaluation/nhs-islington/
Hwang, J. (2020). Impacts of Mental Health First Aid in New York on mental health literacy and stigma. Unpublished thesis. Available from: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1179&context=jj_etds
Jaman, P., Patterson, P., & Pearson, L. (2013). Mental Health First Aid England: is improving the mental health literacy of the population contributing to a public health priority? Available from: https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/research-and-evaluation/birmingham-and-coventry-uni-mhfa-course-evaluations-summary/
Jensen, K. B., Morthorst, B. R., Vendsborg, P. B., Hjorthøj, C., & Nordentoft, M. (2016). Effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid training in Denmark: a randomized trial in waitlist design. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 51(4), 597–606. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1176-9
Jorm, A. F., Kitchener, B. A., & Reavley, N. J. (2019). Mental Health First Aid training: lessons learned from the global spread of a community education program. World Psychiatry, 18(2), 142–143. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20621
Khaliq, F. (2011). Evaluation of Mental Health First Aid Training for Voluntary and Charitable Services working with Black and Minority Ethnic individuals in Bristol, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust. Available from: https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/research-and-evaluation/nhs-report-bristol-mhfa-training-bme-communities/
Kim, M. K., Su, G. S., Chan, A. N. Y., Fu, Y., Huang, Y., Huang, C.-C., Hires, B., & Chu, M. T. (2024). Mental health priorities and cultural-responsiveness of the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training for Asian immigrant populations in Greater Boston, Massachusetts. BMC Psychiatry, 24(1), 506. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05894-x
Lee, O. E., & Tokmic, F. (2019). Effectiveness of mental health first aid training for underserved Latinx and Asian American immigrant communities. Mental Health and Prevention, 13, 68–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhp.2018.12.003
Lu, S., He, Y., Searle, K., Absetz, P., Oldenburg, B., & Reavley, N. (2021). Using stakeholder perceptions to inform future efforts to implement Mental Health First Aid training in China: A qualitative study. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 323. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPSYT.2021.557282
Lucksted, A., Mendenhall, A. N., Frauenholtz, S. I., & Aakre, J. M. (2015). Experiences of graduates of the Mental Health First Aid-USA course. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 17(3), 169–183. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623730.2015.1013670
MacDonald, K. M., Cosquer, C., & Flockton, A. (2008). An Evaluation of the Impact of MHFA Training in Kingston Upon Hull. Available from: https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/research-and-evaluation/mental-health-first-aid-hull/
Mantzios, M., Egan, H., & Cook, A. (2020). Mental Health First Aid in the UK: how important is First Aid when Professional Mental Health Services are in dire straits? SN Comprehensive Clinical Medicine, 2(6), 759–760. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42399-020-00282-4
Mendenhall, A. N., & Jackson, S. C. (2013). Instructor insights into delivery of Mental Health First Aid USA: A case study of mental health promotion across one state. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 15(5), 275–287. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623730.2013.853420
O’Gorman, J. (2020). Evaluating Mental Health First Aid Training in Ireland: A study of participants’ post training experience and helping behaviour. Unpublished thesis. Available from: https://ulir.ul.ie/bitstream/handle/10344/9746/OGorman_2020_Evaluating.pdf?sequence=2
Ploper, V., Jones, R., Kraus, D. J., Schmidt, A., & Corrigan, P. (2015). Feedback from American participants of a mental health first aid training course. Journal of Public Mental Health, 14(2), 118–121. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-04-2014-0016
Ranganathan, M. (2024). First Aid Kit to Solve Mental Health Crisis in India: Mental Health First Aid to the Rescue. Psychological Studies, 69(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-023-00773-z
Sequeira, C. (2021). First aid in mental health: a contribution to a healthier society. SMAD. Revista Eletrônica Saúde Mental Álcool e Drogas, 17, 4–6. https://dx.doi.org/10.11606/issn.1806-6976.smad.2021.000193
Subedi, P., Li, C., Gurung, A., Bizune, D., Dogbey, D., Johnson, C. C., & Yun, K. (2015). Mental health first aid training for the Bhutanese refugee community in the United States. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 9(1), 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-015-0012-z
Svensson, B., & Hansson, L. (2014). Effectiveness of mental health first aid training in Sweden. A randomized controlled trial with a six-month and two-year follow-up. PLoS ONE, 9(6), e100911. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0100911
Svensson, B., Hansson, L., & Stjernswärd, S. (2015). Experiences of a Mental Health First Aid Training program in Sweden: A descriptive qualitative study. Community Mental Health Journal, 51(4), 497–503. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-015-9840-1
Takhar, S. S. (2021). Evaluating the adequacy and potential use of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) in Punjabi communities. Unpublished thesis. Available from: https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/108982
Terry, J. (2010). Experiences of instructors delivering the Mental Health First Aid training programme: A descriptive qualitative study. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 17(7), 594–602. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2010.01557.x
Terry, J. (2011). Delivering a basic mental health training programme: Views and experiences of Mental Health First Aid instructors in Wales. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 18(8), 677–686. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2011.01719.x
Wang, C., Liu, J. L., Marsico, K. F., & Zhu, Q. (2021). Culturally adapting youth mental health first aid training for Asian Americans. Psychological Services. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000574
Wilcox, H. C., Pas, E., Murray, S., Kahn, G., DeVinney, A., Bhakta, S., Rosenbaum, L., & Hart, L. M. (2023). Effectiveness of Teen Mental Health First Aid in Improving Teen-to-Teen Support among American Adolescents. Journal of School Health, 93(11), 990–999. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.13364
Won, C. R., Lee, L. H., Lee, H. Y., Noh, H., Doh, N., & Allen, R. S. (2025). A Mixed Methods Approach to Korean-Youth Mental Health First Aid (K-YMHFA): A Pilot Study. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/26408066.2025.2456756
Wong, D. F. K., Lau, Y., Kwok, S., Wong, P., & Tori, C. (2017). Evaluating the effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid Program for Chinese People in Hong Kong. Research on Social Work Practice, 27(1), 59–67. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731515585149
Wong, E., Collins, R., & Cerully, J. (2015). Reviewing the evidence base for Mental Health First Aid: Is there support for its use with key target populations in California? RAND Health Quarterly, 5(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.7249/rr972
Military and Emergency Services
Military / veterans
Crone, D. M., Sarkar, M., Curran, T., Baker, C. M., Hill, D., Loughren, E. A., Dickson, T., & Parker, A. (2020). Mental health first aid for the UK Armed Forces. Health Promotion International, 35(1), 132–139. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/day112
A full report of this project is available here: Crone D, Sarkar M, Loughren E, Curran T, Baker C, Hill D, et al. Evaluation of the ‘Mental Health First Aid in the Armed Forces Community’ Project – Final Report. 2016. Available from: https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/research-and-evaluation/uni-gloucestershire-armed-forces-mhfa/
Evans, J., Romaniuk, M., & Theal, R. (2021). Evaluation of mental health first aid training for family members of military veterans with a mental health condition. BMC Psychiatry, 21 (1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12888-021-03139-9
Mohatt, N. V., Boeckmann, R., Winkel, N., Mohatt, D. F., & Shore, J. (2017). Military Mental Health First Aid: development and preliminary efficacy of a community training for improving knowledge, attitudes, and helping behaviors. Military Medicine, 182(1), e1576-e1583. https://doi.org/10.7205/milmed-d-16-00033
Emergency services
Moffitt, J., Bostock, J., & Cave, A. (2014). Promoting well-being and reducing stigma about mental health in the fire service. Journal of Public Mental Health, 13(2), 103–113. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-02-2013-0004
Robson, J., & Bostock, J. (n.d.). Evaluation of Mental Health First Aid Training for Flood Recovery Workers. Available from: https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/research-and-evaluation/northumberland-evaluation-mhfa-training-flood-recovery-workers/
Robson, J., & Bostock, J. (2010). Evaluation of Mental Health First Aid Training with Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service. Available from: https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/research-and-evaluation/northumberland-fire-and-rescue/
Justice context
chweers, A. (2018). Perceptions of Mental Health First Aid Training deputies received in a jail setting. Unpublished thesis. Available from: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/pg_10?0::NO:10:P10_ACCESSION_NUM:ysu1546427525796788#abstract-files
Flumo, R., Valera, P., Malarkey, S., & Acevedo, S. (2024). Improving the Mental Health and Well-Being of Correctional Officers through Mental Health First Aid Training. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology: The Official Journal of the Society for Police and Criminal Psychology, 39(1), 131–140. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-023-09620-3
Soderstrom, M. F., & Bumgarner, J. (2025). Instructors’ challenges facilitating mental health first aid training with law enforcement. Police Practice and Research, 26(2), 119-135. https://doi.org/10.1080/15614263.2024.2406836
S Anderson, R., Treger, J., & Lucksted, A. (2020). Youth Mental Health First-Aid: Juvenile justice staff training to assist youth with mental health concerns. Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 71(1), 19–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfcj.12158
Workplace
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Bell, N., Evans, G,, Beswick, A., & Moore, A. (2018). Summary of the evidence on the effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training in the workplace. Derbyshire, U.K.: Health and Safety Executive. Available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr1135.htm
Bond, K. S., Jorm, A. F., Kitchener, B. A., & Reavley, N. J. (2016). Mental health first aid training for Australian financial counsellors: An evaluation study. Advances in Mental Health, 14(1), 65–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/18387357.2015.1122704
Bovopoulos, N., LaMontagne, A., Martin, A., & Jorm, A. (2016). Delivering mental health first aid training in Australian workplaces: exploring instructors’ experiences. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 18(2), 65–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623730.2015.1122658
Bovopoulos, N., LaMontagne, A. D., Martin, A., & Jorm, A. (2018). Exploring the role of mental health first aid officers in workplaces: A qualitative study using case study methodology. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 11(6), 366–381. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-06-2018-0082
Brandling, J. (2010). Evaluating Mental Health First Aid Training for Line Managers working in the public sector. Available from: https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/research-and-evaluation/university-bath-school-health/
Carpini, J. A., Booth, J., Johal, S., Odesnik, B., Soon, S., Boyne, E., Clifford, R., & Ashoorian, D. (2024). Mental Health First Aid Officers in the Wild: A Qualitative Study of Role Formalisation, Motivation and Support Systems. Advances in Mental Health, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/18387357.2024.2320627
Hanisch, S. E., Twomey, C. D., Szeto, A. C. H., Birner, U. W., Nowak, D., & Sabariego, C. (2016). The effectiveness of interventions targeting the stigma of mental illness at the workplace: A systematic review. BMC Psychiatry, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-015-0706-4
Hounsell, C. (2015). Mental health first aid training helps cut stress in the workplace. Occupational Health, 67(2), 11. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1667196137?accountid=12372
Kitchener, B. A., & Jorm, A. F. (2004). Mental health first aid training in a workplace setting: A randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN13249129]. BMC Psychiatry, 4(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-4-23
Kubo, H., Urata, H., Katsuki, R., Hirashima, M., Ueno, S., Suzuki, Y., Fujisawa, D., Hashimoto, N., Kobara, K., Cho, T., Mitsui, T., Kanba, S., Otsuka, K., & Kato, T. A. (2018). Development of MHFA-based 2-h educational program for early intervention in depression among office workers: A single-arm pilot trial. PLoS ONE, 13(12), e0208114. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208114
Lam, L. T., Lam, M. K., Reddy, P., & Wong, P. (2022). Efficacy of a Workplace Intervention Program With Web-Based Online and Offline Modalities for Improving Workers’ Mental Health. Frontiers in psychiatry, 13, 888157. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.888157
Massie, M. (2019). Mental health literacy: A review of applications and effectiveness in the higher education workplace. Unpublished thesis. Available from: https://open.library.ubc.ca/cIRcle/collections/graduateresearch/42591/items/1.0379563
Moll, S. E., Patten, S., Stuart, H., MacDermid, J. C., & Kirsh, B. (2018). Beyond Silence: A randomized, parallel-group trial exploring the impact of workplace mental health literacy training with healthcare employees. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 63(12), 826–833. https://doi.org/10.1177/0706743718766051
Narayanasamy, M., Thomson, L., Coole, C., Nouri, F., & Drummond, A. (2021). Investigating the barriers and facilitators to implementing mental health first aid in the workplace: a qualitative study. The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, 16(2), 164–178. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-12-2019-0064
Reavley, N. J., Morgan, A. J., Fischer, J.-A., Kitchener, B. A., Bovopoulos, N., & Jorm, A. F. (2018). Effectiveness of eLearning and blended modes of delivery of Mental Health First Aid training in the workplace: randomised controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1888-3
Reavley, N. J., Morgan, A. J., Fischer, J.-A., Kitchener, B. A., Bovopoulos, N., & Jorm, A. F. (2021). Longer-term effectiveness of eLearning and blended delivery of Mental Health First Aid training in the workplace: 2-Year follow-up of a randomised controlled trial. Internet Interventions, 25, 100434. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2021.100434
Szeto, A. C. H., & Dobson, K. S. (2010). Reducing the stigma of mental disorders at work: A review of current workplace anti-stigma intervention programs. Applied and Preventive Psychology, 14(1–4), 41-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appsy.2011.11.002
Usmani, A., Morgan, A. J., & Reavley, N. J. (2023). Intentions and confidence as predictors of mental health first aid: Findings from a longitudinal study. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 17(5), 502–511. https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.13345
Whitmore, M., Stewart, K., Pollard, J., van Belle, J., Yang, M., & Van Stolk, C. (2018). Promising practices for health and wellbeing at work: A review of the evidence landscape London, U.K.: Public Health England. Available from: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2409.html
Questions of effectiveness
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Bond, K. S., Cottrill, F. A., Morgan, A. J., Chalmers, K. J., Lyons, J. N., Rossetto, A., Kelly, C. M., Kelly, L., Reavley, N. J., & Jorm, A. F. (2022). Evaluation of the Conversations About Gambling Mental Health First Aid course: effects on knowledge, stigmatising attitudes, confidence and helping behaviour. BMC Psychology, 10(1), 78. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-022-00785-w
Bond, K. S., Lyons, J. N., Cottrill, F. A., Sabo, A. V., Baillie, S. E., Rossetto, A., Kelly, L., Kelly, C. M., Reavley, N. J., Jorm, A. F., & Morgan, A. J. (2023). Evaluation of the Conversations about Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Mental Health First Aid Course: Effects on Knowledge, Stigmatising Attitudes, Confidence and Helping Behaviour. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043749
Borrill, J. (2010). Mental Health First Aid Training: Initial Evaluation by Private Sector Participants. Available from: https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/research-and-evaluation/university-westminsternbspprivate-sector-evaluation/
Chalmers, K. J., Wilson, A., Rossetto, A., Kelly, C. M., Lyons, J. N., Sabo, A. V., Baillie, S. E. & Reavley, N. J. (2024). Instructors’ experience and acceptance of online mental health training: implementation considerations. Advances in Mental Health, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/18387357.2024.2341064
Crisanti, A. S., Luo, L., McFaul, M., Silverblatt, H., & Pyeatt, C. (2016). Impact of mental health first aid on confidence related to mental health literacy: A national study with a focus on race-ethnicity. Psychiatric Services, 67(3), 350–353. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201400375
Hadlaczky, G., Hökby, S., Mkrtchian, A., Carli, V., & Wasserman, D. (2014). Mental health first aid is an effective public health intervention for improving knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour: A meta-analysis. International Review of Psychiatry, 26(4). https://doi.org/10.3109/09540261.2014.924910
Hart, L. M., Jorm, A. F., & Paxton, S. J. (2012). Mental health first aid for eating disorders: Pilot evaluation of a training program for the public. BMC Psychiatry, 12(1), 98. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-12-98
Jorm, A. F., & Kitchener, B. A. (2018). The truth about mental health first aid training. Psychiatric Services, 69(4), 492–492. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201800006
Jorm, A. F., Kitchener, B. A., Fischer, J. A., & Cvetkovski, S. (2010). Mental health first aid training by e-learning: A randomized controlled trial. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 44(12), 1072–1081. https://doi.org/10.3109/00048674.2010.516426
Kitchener, B. A., & Jorm, A. F. (2002). Mental health first aid training for the public: Evaluation of effects on knowledge, attitudes and helping behavior. BMC Psychiatry, 2(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-2-10
Kitchener, B. A., & Jorm, A. F. (2006). Mental health first aid training: Review of evaluation studies. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 40(1), 6–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1614.2006.01735.x
Kitchener, B. A., & Jorm, A. F. (2008). Mental health first aid: An international programme for early intervention. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 2(1), 55–61. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-7893.2007.00056.x
Laurene, K. R., Bonnah, G., Patel, S., & Kenne, D. R. (2023). Utilization of the mental health first aid ALGEE action plan: a longitudinal study. Journal of Public Mental Health, 22(1), 36–44. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-09-2022-0096
Maslowski, A. K., LaCaille, R. A., LaCaille, L. J., Reich, C. M., & Klingner, J. (2019). Effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid: a meta-analysis. Mental Health Review Journal, 24(4), 245–261. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-05-2019-0016
Mei, C., & McGorry, P. D. (2020). Mental health first aid: strengthening its impact for aid recipients. Evidence Based Mental Health, 23(4), 133–134. https://doi.org/10.1136/ebmental-2020-300154
Morgan, A. J., Ross, A., & Reavley, N. J. (2018). Systematic review and meta-analysis of mental health first aid training: Effects on knowledge, stigma, and helping behaviour. PLoS ONE, 13(5). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0197102
Morrissey, H., Moss, S., Alexi, N., & Ball, P. (2017). Do Mental Health First Aid™ courses enhance knowledge? Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, 12(2), 69–76. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-01-2016-0003
Scantlebury, A., Parker, A., Booth, A., McDaid, C., & Mitchell, N. (2018). Implementing mental health training programmes for non-mental health trained professionals: A qualitative synthesis. PLoS ONE, 13(6), e0199746. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199746
Guidelines development / Delphi
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Chalmers, K. J., Rossetto, A., Reavley, N. J., Jorm, A. F., Kitchener, B. A., Kelly, C. M., Morgan, A. J., Bond, K. S., & Cottrill, F. A. (2022). Redevelopment of mental health first aid guidelines for supporting someone experiencing a panic attack: a Delphi study. BMC psychology, 10(1), 136. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-022-00843-3
Encina-Zúñiga, E., Rodante, D., Agrest, M., Tapia-Munoz, T., Vidal-Zamora, I., Ardila-Gómez, S., Alvarado, R., Leiderman, E. A., & Reavley, N. (2023). Development of mental health first-aid guidelines for suicide risk: a Delphi expert consensus study in Argentina and Chile. BMC psychiatry, 23(1), 928. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05417-0
Johnson, C. L., Kelly, C. M., Jorm, A. F., Garvey, W., & Hart, L. M. (2025). How to Approach a Child About Concerns for Their Mental Health and Seeking Help: A Delphi Expert Consensus Study to Develop Guidelines on Mental Health First Aid for Supporting Children. Health Expectations, 28(1), e70126. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70126
Jorm, A. F., & Ross, A. M. (2018). Guidelines for the public on how to provide mental health first aid: narrative review. BJPsych Open, 4(6), 427-440. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2018.58
Wright, J., Chalmers, K. J., Rossetto, A., Reavley, N. J., Kelly, C. M., & Jorm, A. F. (2024). Redevelopment of mental health first aid guidelines for substance use problems: a Delphi study. BMC psychology, 12(1), 70. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01561-8
Promotional / informative
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Baillie, S. E., Lyons, J. N., Sabo, A. V., Chalmers, K. J., Rossetto, A., Bond, K. S., & Reavley, N. J. (2023). Investigating factors that impact on the uptake of Mental Health First Aid Australia’s Conversations About Gambling course: a qualitative study engaging stakeholder perspectives. Advances in Mental Health, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/18387357.2023.2280044
Jorm, A. F., & Kitchener, B. A. (2011). Noting a landmark achievement: Mental Health First Aid training reaches 1% of Australian adults. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 45(10), 808–813. https://doi.org/10.3109/00048674.2011.594785
Kroll, H. (2015). Mental Health First Aid: Addressing mental health as a public health priority. Perspectives in Public Health, 135(1), 12–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913914562120
Potter, G. (2011). How are the skills learnt on Mental Health First Aid training used to help people with mental health problems? Unpublished thesis. Available from: https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/research-and-evaluation/understanding-how-skills-learnt-mhfa-course-are-applied/
Rosenberg, L. (2011). Mental health first aid: A “radical efficiency” in health promotion. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 38(2), 143–145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-011-9236-0
Zilnyk, A. (2010). Mental health first aid – A life skill we should all have? Perspectives in Public Health, 130(2), 61–62. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913909360452
Seminal
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A key study in which Jorm coins the term mental health literacy:
Jorm, A. F., Korten, A. E., Jacomb, P. A., Christensen, H., Rodgers, B., & Pollitt, P. (1997). “Mental health literacy”: a survey of the public’s ability to recognise mental disorders and their beliefs about the effectiveness of treatment. The Medical Journal of Australia, 166(4), 182–186.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9066546/
Jorm, A. F. (2019). “4: The concept of mental health literacy”. International Handbook of Health Literacy. Bristol, UK: Policy Press. Available from: https://doi.org/10.51952/9781447344520.ch004
Jorm, A.F. (2012) ‘Mental health literacy: Empowering the community to take action for better mental health’, American Psychologist, 67(3), 231-243. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/a0025957
Learn More
This list is also available on the MHFA International website with additional explanations about types of research.
