Mental Health First Aid (Standard)
COURSE INFORMATION
Delivery
> Face-to-face (14 hours in total)
> Blended (14 hours total – 8 hours self‑paced eLearning + 4 hours instructor‑led workshop)
> Online (5-8 hours online learning & 2x 2.5-hour video conferencing sessions)
Suited for
Adults 18+ supporting other adults
Accreditation
3 years through Mental Health First Aid Australia
Book a session
Many people and workplaces are well‑equipped to respond to physical injuries, we train people in first aid, run regular refreshers, and make sure everyone knows what to do in a crisis. But the reality is that mental health challenges are becoming one of the biggest issues people and organisations will face. Despite this, many people and workplaces aren’t as prepared to recognise or respond to a mental health concern or crisis in the same way they would a physical one.
Our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Standard course empowers adults with the practical skills to recognise when someone is experiencing a mental health problem, approach them safely and compassionately, and provide effective first‑aid support until professional help is available.
This evidence‑based program is trusted across workplaces, community organisations, and health settings, helping people respond early, reduce stigma, and create safer, more supportive environments.
Who is this course for?
MHFA Standard is designed for adults supporting other adults, whether in workplaces, community roles, or everyday life. You’ll learn how to recognise signs and symptoms of common mental health problems, respond in crisis situations, and offer support that promotes safety, connection, and recovery.
COURSE INFORMATION
Delivery
> Face-to-face (14 hours in total)
> Blended (14 hours total – 8 hours self‑paced eLearning + 4 hours instructor‑led workshop)
> Online (5-8 hours online learning & 2x 2.5-hour video conferencing sessions)
Suited for
Adults 18+ supporting other adults
Accreditation
3 years through Mental Health First Aid Australia
Book a session
What You’ll Learn
You’ll build skills and confidence to support people experiencing:
Developing mental health problems:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Psychosis
- Substance use concerns
Mental health crises:
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviours
- Non‑suicidal self‑injury
- Panic attacks
- Traumatic events
- Severe psychotic states
- Effects of alcohol or drug use
- Aggressive behaviours
By the end of the course, you’ll feel equipped to step in early, respond with care, and guide someone toward the right support.
Why choose Breakthrough
For a cause: Being a for-purpose charity, we receive only a small amount of government funding, which means every dollar raised through the purchase of any of our mental health programs, directly supports vital mental health research that is driving change across Australia.
Expertly trained: Our instructors are highly trained and deliver MHFA using the latest evidence‑based practice, ensuring you receive accurate, practical, and relevant skills.
Lived experience: Our team includes facilitators with lived experience who bring compassion, authenticity, and real‑world insight to every session.
How to enrol?
Individual bookings: Browse our upcoming sessions and secure your spot by selecting your preferred date.
Organisational bookings: Looking to train your team? Submit an enquiry and our team will be in touch to tailor some options.
What Participants Say
4.6/5
Confidence recognising signs of a problem
4.7/5
confidence offering support
4.5/5
confidence approaching someone safely
Ready to make an impact?
Whether you’re supporting colleagues, clients, students, or community members, MHFA gives you the tools to respond with confidence and compassion.
Book your session today and together we can create a life free from mental illness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Established in Canberra in 2000, Mental Health First Aid was the brainchild of Betty Kitchener AM and her husband Professor Tony Jorm. In the early days, the course was developed to fill a community gap for practical mental health training, that would parallel the first-aid training provided for physical health.
Mental Health First Aid has risen to become one of the most trusted, evidence-based mental health education programs in Australia and internationally.
Evaluation has always been a key focus of the program. The first randomised control trial of MHFA training was conducted in NSW in 2001. Since then, the program has been extensively evaluated and reported on through various trials, peer review and expert consensus within Australia and overseas.
Your accreditation is due to expire
If your accreditation is due to expire you can book yourself into complete the refresher course. The refresher course is delivered Face-to-face in one 4-hour session. Please visit our register your interest page and send us your details and our Community Education and Training Manager will get in touch to discuss the options.
Your accreditation has expired (past the 3 years)
If your current accreditation is past the 3 years, this means it has expired. You will be required to attend the full course again. Please visit our register your interest page and send us your details and our Community Education and Training Manager will get in touch to discuss the options.
Yes. Peer reviewed studies from Australia and across the globe show that the program improves the mental health of both the individual administering care and the one receiving it, expands knowledge of mental health challenges and their treatments, increases the services provided and reduces overall stigma toward individuals with mental health or substance use challenges by improving mental health literacy.
Standard MHFA is aimed at adults supporting adults, whilst Youth MHFA is aimed at adults supporting youth.
Standard covers topics and information specific to adults, whereas the Youth MHFA provides topics and information specific to young people aged between 12 and 18 years.
For more information on these please visit the below pages:
There is no prework or requirements needed, prior to becoming a Mental Health First Aider, however it is recommended you read about the course and your role as a mental health first aider, which can be located below.
Your role as a Mental health first aider, is to offer support to a person experiencing a mental health problem before professional help is received. This may be when a person is developing a mental health problem, when the person is experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem, or it may be a crisis situation. Mental health First Aid is the very first intervention.
Just like physical first aid, this course does not teach you or qualify you to be the professional, the therapist or the counsellor. This course does not teach you how to diagnose a mental illness, although it will teach you how to identify when someone is experiencing poor mental health and could benefit from a mental health first aid conversation.
We offer a variety of options available for online, blended face-to-face, or general awareness programs.
Blended face-to-face
This is a blend of online self-paced learning and face-to-face. Online learning usually takes between 5-7 hours, which is followed by a 4-hour face-to-face session.
To read more or register your interest, please visit here.
Online
All training is completed online through self-paced learning and video conferencing with an instructor. Similar to the blended face-to-face, online learning usually takes between 5-7 hours, which is followed by 2x 2.5-hour video conferencing sessions.
To access any online material, you must have internet and a computer, as well as a working camera and microphone.
To read more of register your interest please visit here.
Mental Health Awareness Sessions (group or organisation bookings only)
An alternative to the formal accredited Mental Health First Aid Training, we offer mental health awareness sessions. Mental Health Awareness Sessions are an introduction to Mental Health First Aid Training. It will provide an overview of mental health and the skills to assist and identify the early warnings signs of a mental health problem. The approach is vitally important to be able to use appropriate language; to look at the use of open and closed questions and how to support someone who may be experiencing a mental health problem. These generally run up to 2 hours but can be tailored to meet the needs of organisations and community groups.
To register your interest please visit here.
Yes, we do. You can send an enquiry by visiting here. Fill in your details and our Community Education and Training Manager will be in contact.
