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.
Adapted for Aotearoa
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.
Find a Mental Health First Aid course
MHFA courses are a suite of internationally acclaimed and evidence-based, accredited training programmes that empower and equip individuals with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to support a friend, family member or co-worker experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis.
Courses are delivered by accredited MHFA Aotearoa instructors across Aotearoa. Find an instructor near you.
Role of Te Pou
Te Pou became the national licence holder of Mental Health First Aid in Aotearoa New Zealand in July 2020. We provide training for suitable people to become accredited MHFA instructors in the Standard, Workplace and Youth programmes.
Te Pou is also responsible for adapting the suite of Mental Health First Aid programmes for the cultural context of Aotearoa New Zealand and implementing the programmes across the country.
About MHFA International
Mental Health First Aid International, based in Australia, is a not-for-profit organisation that develops, delivers and evaluates accredited mental health training programmes. The Mental Health First Aid programme began in Australia in 2000 and has since evolved into a global movement that is delivered by an active community of licensed providers in 24 countries. To date, over 4 million people worldwide have been trained.
