Mental Health First Aid for the Older Person

Be a mental illness first responder

This course and curriculum are developed by MHFA Australia, and delivered by MHFA Accredited Instructors.

Quality, early intervention is critical to effectively combat mental illness. This course is designed to give you the skills to provide initial support for people developing mental illness or undergoing a mental health crisis.

This two day course teaches adults how to provide Mental Health First Aid to older people (65+)

Mental health issues in older people (65+) are often under-identified by health-care professionals and by older people themselves. Delays in recognition or treatment can result in a worse outcome for the older person, as well as unnecessary distress for those involved.

Mental Health areas covered:

• Depression and anxiety
• Confusion and dementia
• Psychosis

Mental Health crises covered:

• Suicidal thoughts and behaviours
• Non-suicidal self-injury (sometimes called deliberate self-harm)
• Panic attacks
• Delirium
• Unsafe and challenging behaviours due to confusion

When you study with genU Training, we want you to succeed. Entry requirements allow us to make sure that you have the right pre-existing knowledge and skills to achieve your chosen course. You will need to provide evidence that you meet the requirements listed in this section.

Entry requirements

• must be 18 years of age and over

Study requirements

During your study, you will need to meet specific requirements that are necessary for you to complete your course work and be successful:

• Access to digital technologies (e.g. laptop, desktop, tablet-computer and/or smartphone) with basic digital literacy skills
• Students will need to demonstrate that they have the appropriate language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) skills
• Effective communication, documentation and research skills

Important information

This course contains content, concepts and scenarios that some individuals may find distressing. Please consider your personal resilience and any potential emotional triggers when participating in this course and in any future employment in this field.

• Ensuring you have someone to talk to about the content if you need to
• Contact phone numbers for counselling and crisis services
• Information about what to do if you begin to feel upset during the training.

Victoria

While students and other visitors attending onsite (excluding paid or volunteer workers) are no longer required to show evidence that they have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination, those undertaking placements must continue to adhere to the vaccination mandate that applies to their sector and/or their placement host.

Victorian residents can access this course via our full fee for service rate.

There may also be other charges such as material or amenities fees. A genU Training staff member will assist you in determining your course fees and a statement of fees detailing all course charges will be provided prior to enrolment.

For full details of genU Training’s course fees please view our Fees & Charges page.

genU Training offer Mental Health First Aid, in the following format:

On-campus (day) – Study face to face (in a classroom setting)

• • • • 2 consecutive days (9am – 5pm); or
      • 2 days over 2 weeks (9am – 5pm)