This is a first response intervention course focusing on adults whose primary role is the support of young people. This training aims to support a young person experiencing a decline in their mental health or experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency. Just as physical first aid is administered to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained, MHFA is given until appropriate treatment is found or until the crisis is resolved.

During this 14 hour training, participants will gain awareness about common mental health problems, gain the skills to engage a young person who’s in distress in a conversation aimed to connect them to appropriate supports. Additionally, participants will learn about crisis intervention strategies, resources in their communities and self-care practices.

This course is an additional two hours in length in comparison to the Mental Health First Aid: Basic course, and covers additional topics such as eating disorders and deliberate self-injury.