The teen MHFA program teaches young people, how to provide mental health first aid to their friends.
The course was developed in response to research indicating that young people have a preference for sharing problems with peers. The course curriculum is evidence-based, informed by a study undertaken to determine the best actions a young person can undertake to support a peer with a mental health problem.
Young people learn the teen MHFA Action Plan, as well as information about different types of mental health problems and mental health crisis situations in young people, and the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviours that indicate that there might be a mental health problem.The course also covers mental health crisis situations, including suicidal thoughts and behaviours, non-suicidal self-injury, intoxication, and bullying and abuse.
The delivery format is 3 interactive classroom sessions of 75 minutes each, on non-consecutive days. The course has been specifically designed to be engaging for this age group, and uses videos, group discussions and activities.Course participants receive a copy of the teen MHFA Manual to keep and a Certificate of Completion.
The teen MHFA program is taught to young people aged 12-14 and aged 15-18 in settings where Youth MHFA Training has been conducted for those staff/supervising adults within the setting. The Youth MHFA Course teaches adults how to assist adolescents who are developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. Schools, sports clubs, juvenile justice settings and service organisations are all using the training and finding it successful and relevant.
Our aim is to provide every young person with the skills they need to assist a friend.To ensure program equity and effectiveness the program is provided to the entire group.
This course does not teach or encourage students to offer each other counselling of any kind, or try to handle these problems alone. Diagnosis and treatment are the responsibility of properly trained mental health professional. Rather, students are taught to seek help from a trusted adult who can get their friend this kind of help as soon as possible.
TMF Training Solutions delivers MHFA courses authored by Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Australia , with experienced MHFA 
Principal Master Instructors who are currently accredited by MHFA Australia. Our approach helps young people and adults to learn about mental health problems and mental health crises and how to respond to them in a safe, inclusive and friendly environment.