Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa New Zealand
About 1 in 5 New Zealand adults experience mental health challenges in any year.
This means that at some stage, everyone will have close contact with someone experiencing a mental health challenge, whether it is a whānau member, a co-worker, or a friend.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches participants how to provide initial support to people who may be experiencing mental health challenges or mental health crisis until the crisis resolves, or specialist help is accessed, using a practical evidence-based action plan.
Why does this course work?
Mental Health First Aid courses are internationally acclaimed and evidence-based. All our courses are based on guidelines developed through the expert contributions of New Zealand-based mental health professionals, cultural advisors, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges. Each programme is adapted for Aotearoa ensuring they reflect our cultural context and use relevant data research and clinical treatment pathways.
Evaluations consistently show that Mental Health First Aid training improves understanding of the mental health challenges people experience, their options for treatments and helpful first aid strategies. Participants report increased confidence in their ability to offer Mental Health First Aid which enables early access to help. The training also decreases stigma and discrimination that many people with mental health and addiction challenges experience.
In New Zealand Te Pou www.mentalhealthfirstaid.nz is the current host and licence provider of Mental Health First Aid.
What can I learn during this course?
A Mental Health First Aid course will teach you how to provide initial support to adults who may be experiencing mental health challenges or mental health crisis, until the crisis resolves, or specialist help is accessed, using a practical evidence-based Action Plan.
Mental Health crises covered:
Suicidal thoughts and behaviours
Non-suicidal self-injury
Panic attacks
Traumatic events
Severe psychotic states
Severe effects from alcohol or other substance use
Aggressive behaviours
Mental Health challenges covered:
Depression
Anxiety
Psychosis
Substance use problems
After training participants will feel more confident to identify when someone may be experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis, start a conversation, provide initial assistance and triage that person with the right help.
On completion of the course each participant will receive a Certificate of Accreditation as a Mental Health First Aider valid for three years, and a comprehensive Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa resource manual.
Who can attend this course?
Anyone over 18 years old can attend.
Note: This course is not a therapy or a support group.
Course structure
The Standard MHFA Aotearoa course comprises 12 hours of content delivered in-person across two full days.
It could be flexible, for example 3 hours X 4 days course.
Numbers of attendees:
Course numbers are limited to 12 participants.
How can I get the certificate? :
On completion of the two days, participants are issued access to an online portal to where they can complete a short quiz and download their personalised accreditation certificate (valid for 3 years).
Profile of instructor:
Ai Kihara - Director at Hana Counselling and Education
Ai is a counsellor/ Social worker/ EMDR therapist/ art therapist and researcher. She worked at different agencies including Shine DV centre, MSD, Lifeline, Family Works, MIT and other organizations. She has a passion for helping communities with her qualifications, work experiences and Japanese philosophies.
Ai will assist you in completing this course!
please visit her profile to see more details.
Book a upcoming workshop
Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa New Zealand
This is a 2-day training. Please attend the 2 days to complete your training.
Date and time:
Day 1: 24 May (Sat) 2025/ 9.00am - 4.30pm
Day 2: 31 May (Sat) 2025 /9:00 am - 4.30pm
Location:
Presbyterian Church St Lukes, 130 Remuera Road, Remuera, Auckland 1050
Price:
$325 early bird discount if you made a booking by the end of Apr 2025
$345 (Including material book, handout, coffee&tea)
Refund Policy:
Please understand that appointment times are limited. If you must cancel your appointment, we respectfully request 48 hours notice. Missed appointments, or appointments cancelled without 48 hours notice, will incur a fee of full-cost.
About this training
Title: Mental Health First Aid Course (Standard)
Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa New Zealand is an accredited programme adapted under license in New Zealand through Te Pou.
Here is more information about this training
Please contact me through the contact form or send me a message at admin@hanacounselling.com
Please choose Mental Health First Aid Training in the booking option!!
Make a booking, today!