Mental Health First Aid
looking after the mental health of others
Mental Health training helps to provide understanding, empathy, resources and actions to help someone who may be struggling.
Mental Health First Aid Training In The Workplace
FACTS ON MENTAL HEALTH
Similar to our expectation of physical first aid, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the help given to someone where there is concern that they may be developing mental health challenges or experiencing a mental health crisis.
10 million+ trained MHFA'ers worldwide
10,000+ MHFA'ers
in NZ
$1 spent on mental health = $2.30 return
3 year accreditation and useful resources
It's common
1 in 5 suffer with some form of mental challnge in any one year
It's a real condition
Similar to physical ailments - it causes real distress
It's treatable
Experience and outcomes show that most people recover
It's ok to talk about
Its real, its common and its treatable. Talk about it
Who are these courses for?
Workplaces
Organisations are recognising the impact of Mental Health and are taking steps to support its people and provide a mentally supportive workplace
Communities
Not for profits, community organisations, educators and groups are understanding the need to support the people around them.
Individuals
Most of us have been affected in some way by mental health challenges, whether that be directly or within family, friends.
Our Courses
Standard MHFA F2F
12 hour face to face delivered over 2 days in a workshop setting.
Engaging, interactive with opportunities to practice and ask questions. Entertaining and informative
Organisational and public courses
Workplace MHFA Online
12 hour course delivered through a mixture of online e-learning and engaging facilitated sessions.
Especially focussed around workplace mental health support and application within organisations
Organisational and public courses
MHFA Refresher
Every 3 years - refresh your MHFA accreditation with a 7 hour course delivered both online or face to face (when available).
Update your training and connect with others that have been helping
Organisational and public courses
6-12 people per course
$580 p/person excl GST
8-20 people per course
$460 p/person excl GST
6-12 people per course
$430 p/person excl GST
MHFA-F2F
23-24 Jun
1-2 Sep
3-4 Nov
MHFA-Online
24 Feb
6 May
8 July
9 Sep
18 Nov
MHFA-Refresher
30 Apr
30 Jun
25 Aug
10 Nov
Both public and organisational courses are available.
Dates are subject to change and may be moved due to numbers or circumstances out of our control.
Please refer to our terms and conditions
Be prepared to support those around you by getting certified in Mental Health First Aid.
MHFA Programs
MHFA NZ Qualification
Classroom Style
12 hours - 2 day in-person
Online
6 hrs e-learning +
6 hrs facilitated
MHFA NZ Refresher
Classroom Style
7 hrs in person
1 day
Online
2 x 3.5hr sessions facilitated online
Classroom Style (F2F) or Facilitated Online
The opportunity to practice — through role plays, scenarios, and activities — makes it easier to apply these skills in a real-life situation.
MHFA Aotearoa
MHFA Aotearoa main flyer
Strengths of MHFA
Click the image to zoom in
What you will learn
MHFA teaches the skills needed to recognise and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health challenges, as well as how to provide someone with initial support until they are connected with appropriate professional help.
In the course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies to help someone in both crisis and noncrisis situations, and where to turn for help.
What you will take away:
Certificate or attendance (and 3 year accreditation once completed)
MHFA resources (the MHFA manual) and other key support contacts
The confidence to start a conversation and support others
Feedback
The course was very engaging and covered all the relevant sections in relation to mental health challenges.
The activities involved were very helpful in developing better understanding of the topic and has I feel empowered with the right knowledge that I have gained and can help others as well now
Woolworths
Supermarket retailer
The course content is approachable and accessible. Gary's facilitation style is warm and easy going. He brings these topics to life through story telling and I really appreciated how he broke the sessions up with mini breakout activities to keep us engaged, fresh and to offer the group a reset from some heavy discussions when we needed it.
So many courses are a tick box exercise and I come out knowing it is unlikely I will ever think about that content again, let alone put anything in to practice - not the case here, what a great and insightful couple of days - and for so many reasons. Thank you
Dentsu
Global marketing
The course was fascinating and empowering. A lot of fun and gave practical tools to use in the real world.
A safe and engaging environment for all participants
Excellent thought provoking course which has given me much more knowledge on mental health
It exceeded my expectations.
Qantas
Airline
It was a very interactive, engaging and informative session. There are things that I didn’t know before about mental health that I know now. It’s as simple as, Mental Health Challenges are normal. And it’s ok for others to reach out to us for help as well to reach out to others to help. I have been having conversations about mental health with others and have started using what I learnt. I would recommend these sessions to anyone.
Holiday Inn/Intercontinental
Hospitality and accomodation
Gary Walker was an exceptional instructor. I know how hard it is to facilitate a course via an online platform but Gary handled it like a pro. I feel privileged to have done the course with such a genuine, approachable and knowledgeable person. He has shown me how it is possible to handle myself in a confident and non-judgemental manner.
The course was amazing, loved it. Gary was a very clear and engaging Tutor. Definitely feeling was more confident and can’t wait to start implementing some changes at my work place and telling everyone to do this course!
I rate the course extremely highly. I have helped many people at work with mental illness issues but the help was all from personal experience, now I feel confident that I can add my training learnings to be more professional and better understanding of the various causes of mental illness. I continue to be fascinated with mental learnings. The most knowledge the better. I am also very keen to put my learning to good use but unfortunately that means someone has to suffer from mental illness. I know from experience that’s not a great place to be for the person suffering or their family and friends.
Online training feedback
Gary Walker was an exceptional instructor. I know how hard it is to facilitate a course via an online platform but Gary handled it like a pro. I feel privileged to have done the course with such a genuine, approachable and knowledgeable person. He has shown me how it is possible to handle myself in a confident and non-judgemental manner.
The course was amazing, loved it. Gary was a very clear and engaging Tutor. Definitely feeling was more confident and can’t wait to start implementing some changes at my work place and telling everyone to do this course!
I rate the course extremely highly. I have helped many people at work with mental illness issues but the help was all from personal experience, now I feel confident that I can add my training learnings to be more professional and better understanding of the various causes of mental illness. I continue to be fascinated with mental learnings. The most knowledge the better. I am also very keen to put my learning to good use but unfortunately that means someone has to suffer from mental illness. I know from experience that’s not a great place to be for the person suffering or their family and friends.
About The Trainer
Gary Walker
Accredited Instructor
About the Trainer: Gary is a behaviour change specialist with a background in Psychology, neuroscience and strategic leadership. He works as a coach, trainer, mentor, speaker and consultant across health, wellness, communication and sustainability.
He has a BSc Psychology, Computer Science, Dip Hypnotherapy, Masters in NLP and Diploma in Leadership & Strategic Management.
Gary worked as a volunteer counsellor, mentor and trainer at Youthline lifeline services and has extensive experience with supporting people, clients and businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
The official MHFA international accreditation courses do not offer a one day course which normally only cover crises responses.
MHFA courses include in-depth sessions and immersive training, lived experience, crises response, resulting in deeper understanding and more confidence.
MHFA has proven credibility on the international stage
Its being going for over 25 years
Evidence based and evidence informed
Highly skilled instructors
Immesive practice and role plays
Comprehensive training
Tailored courses for different groups
Workplace recognition
Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa is an internationally recognised and accredited programme.
Join over 11 million+ people globally across 45 countries who have already become MH First Aiders (2024).
The accreditation is valid for 3 years. On completion of the course a certificate is provided and the comfort that your MHFA skills can be used within business, personal and community.
Yes - we offer organisational training to suit your timing and location. Contact us for either an online or face to face course
Just like Physical First Aid courses - corporate courses are an essential addition to any workplace health and safety program. Not only for peer support, management or HR - it also provides support across all areas of the workplace.
In New Zealand, it is estimated that one in five people will suffer from medium to high levels of mental distress, and this statistic is trending upwards over time. Not only does this impact absenteeism, return to work programs but also absenteeism (showing up but not showing up)
Yes. From an economic perspective, the annual cost burden of serious mental illness in New Zealand is around $12 billion or 5% of GDP. (2023)
An estimate shows that every dollar spent on creating a Mentally Healthy Workplace will create a return on investment of $2.30 and the positive impact these initiatives will have on individuals, employee engagement and workplace culture.
A mentally healthy workplace minimises harm and promotes protective factors for all employees, providing them with an open and supportive environment that promotes positive cultures conducive to mental wellbeing, as well as physical health and wellbeing.
Noticing, acknowledging and supporting the Mental Health of others.
MHFA is an accredited facilitator for mental health programs - organisational, public or bespoke.
Need a trainer - contact us
