Reflections on the Mental Health First Aid International Summit in Vienna

By Sarah Christensen, Programme Manager, MHFA Aotearoa

It was a privilege and a pleasure to represent the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Aotearoa programme at the MHFA International Summit held in Vienna last month.

On the day I arrived, Austria had experienced what local media was calling "a dark day in the history of the country", where 11 young people had lost their lives in a tragic high school shooting in Graz. The country entered three days of national mourning, and it was under this cloud of sorrow that the summit began, with everyone more acutely aware of the importance of the MHFA programme.

The summit brought together delegates from 25 countries, all connected through a shared commitment to improving mental health literacy and suicide prevention through the global Mental Health First Aid movement. It was both inspiring and humbling to be part of such a passionate group of people working to support better mental health conversations and outcomes in their countries and communities.

It was a particular honour to be invited to speak to delegates about the journey of MHFA Aotearoa, and how Te Pou has adapted the programme for our unique New Zealand context. The presentation sparked rich conversations and interest from other countries about the work we are doing.

During the event, Australian Ambassador to Austria Ian Biggs and I discussed the challenges facing young people in Aotearoa, including our alarming youth suicide statistics. New Zealand now has the highest youth suicide rate among OECD countries. It reinforced to me the crucial role that MHFA plays in supporting early intervention and community-led solutions.

The international delegates at the summit shared a common desire to become more connected and involved in the MHFA global movement of increasing Mental Health First Aiders in workplaces, schools and communities. We shared ideas about how to make the programme more sustainable, how to reach wider audiences, and how to raise awareness, promote and protect the MHFA brand worldwide.

We also explored what the future of MHFA looks like in a world where artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way people learn and access information. New research was presented that will contribute to the growing international evidence base that supports the curriculum and impact of the MHFA programme.

ALGEE the Kiwi – our MHFA Aotearoa mascot - was a celebrity and a trendsetter - most sought after to be included in photographs. Austria and USA are proud to now have their own ALGEE the Kiwi soft toy to display.

As an international community, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of MHFA. Each year, the programme grows stronger. The reach continues to expand, with countries like the Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mongolia recently becoming MHFA partners.

It was also a moment to pause and reflect on how far MHFA Aotearoa has come in such a short time. It is not lost on me how much effort our MHFA Aotearoa and Te Pou team puts in behind the scenes to support this kaupapa. I see it and appreciate it.

Our growth would not be possible without our incredible instructor community. You are the true champions of this programme. I thank you for your dedication and commitment to making a difference in people’s lives.

Let’s keep going. We are so close to reaching 10,000 people trained in Aotearoa.

This reminds me of the words spoken by MHFA International CEO Angus Clelland at the summit: “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go further, go together.”

This is something I also believe. Together, we can achieve great things.

Key facts about MHFA

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is delivered in more than 30 countries with more than eight million people trained worldwide.

Te Pou holds the licence for MHFA in Aotearoa and has adapted the programme for the New Zealand context with input from cultural, clinical and lived experience advisors including representatives from Māori and Pacific communities.

Our current MHFA Aotearoa programmes include:

• Standard MHFA (adults supporting adults)
• Youth MHFA (adults supporting young people aged 11 to 18)
• Also, Teen MHFA (a peer-to-peer support for senior high school students) is currently in development.