Mental health first aid (blended learning)
This blended online MHFA course has been adapted from the standard Mental health first aid course for adults. Developed in response to COVID-19.
Physiotherapists are involved in the care of people from all walks of life. One in four people will experience a mental health problem at some stage in their life plus Comorbid mental health problems are common amongst people who access physiotherapy services including but not limited to those experiencing chronic pain, chronic physical illness, multiple pain areas or following a traumatic event. In Australia, approximately one in five adults will experience mental illness in any given year and physiotherapists and other health care professionals can expect to have close contact with someone experiencing a mental illness or a mental health problem.
Lack of knowledge and stigmatising attitudes about mental illness may prevent people from seeking help or providing appropriate support because they do not know how. Stigmatised attitudes and lack of knowledge about mental health conditions are not limited to the general public and can impact on healthcare workers interactions with patients. Stigmatising attitudes can reinforce disempowerment, loss of self-belief and a sense of shame in the person with comorbid mental health problems.3,4 It has been suggested that training of healthcare workers in mental health literacy is essential to ensure appropriate support and referrals are made for people with mental illness.5 This MHFA course will improve mental health literacy of physiotherapists.
It has been suggested that training of healthcare workers in mental health literacy is essential to ensure appropriate support and referrals are made for people with mental illness. This MHFA course will improve mental health literacy of physiotherapists.
This blended learning course consists of three components:
- 7hrs of self-directed online learning. This is to be completed prior to attendance at:
- Two virtual (Zoom) classroom sessions, both of which are 2.5hrs in length
Please note:
- Two weeks prior to the first virtual classroom session, you will be sent a link to the 7hrs of self-directed learning. Virtual classroom login instructions including a Zoom link will be sent to registrants on the day of each of the virtual classroom sessions.
- This is an interactive course which requires your participation. Therefore during the Zoom sessions you need to be in a suitable setting with your video and audio turned on.
- It has been noted through previous iterations that the online content and online manual accessible from the MHFA website does not work effectively on iPads and other handheld devices. It is recommended that you use a desktop or laptop to complete this component of the course.
• VIC, TAS, NSW, ACT – 7.00pm AEDT
• SA – 6.30pm
• QLD - 6.00pm
• NT – 5.30pm
• WA – 4.00pm
Learning outcomes
- Identify Mental illness, risk factors, prevalence and impact, appropriate interventions and recovery
- Explain the role of mental health first aid and the MHFA action plan
- Identify, discuss and recognise signs and symptoms, interventions for depression
- Apply MHFA action plan for depression
- Identify, discuss and recognise signs and symptoms, interventions for anxiety problems
- Apply MHFA action plan for anxiety problems
- Identify, discuss and recognise and symptoms, interventions for psychosis
- Apply MHFA action plan for psychosis
- Identify, discuss and recognise signs and symptoms, interventions for substance use problems