The intention of TMHFA is to reduce mental health stigma, increase help-seeking behaviour and increase the capacity of young people to support their peers to find help for mental-health problems.

Over three sessions, the course teaches participants how to recognise changes in a friend's thinking, feelings or behaviour that may indicate the presence of a mental health problem, how to offer initial mental health first aid support, and how to connect them with a trusted adult.

Outcomes

• Increase confidence to assist help a peer with a mental health problem and seek appropriate support when required.
• Reduce stigmatising attitudes towards mental health.
• Promotes help-seeking behaviours.
• Increase capacity to identify and respond to a mental health crisis

Session details

• Junior (Years 7-9): Three 60-minute sessions, delivered one week apart.
• Senior (Years 10-12): Three 75-minute sessions, delivered one week apart.

Prerequisites

• 10 percent of school staff trained in Youth MHFA. This staff training is also offered at low-cost by the City's Youth Development Unit.
• Youth MHFA trained staff identifiable by students (via classroom posters or page on intranet).
• Pre-session delivered prior to course delivery.
• Teen MHFA program information sent to parents.

Delivery requirements

• Program to be delivered to regular class sizes (25 students maximum).
• All classes in a year level required to complete program over the course of the year.
• Data projector/TV screen and sound/audio equipment.
• Teaching/support staff present for all sessions, preferably Youth MHFA trained.

Bookings

In preparation for 2027, we have identified a list of priority schools for our youth community development programs, and the team is in the process of contacting them. The priority schools have been identified using the City of Greater Geelong’s Social Equity Framework (viewable here) and / or where they have had little to no engagement with our team over the past three years. Our aim is to ensure we are working equitably across The City to deliver high-quality health and wellbeing programs to young people at schools that have previously not had access to our services.

Once we have assessed demand for our programs from our priority schools and in line with our capacity, we encourage expression of interests from additional schools for our programs.

Please email the Youth Development Unit to enquire about our programs. We will endeavour to have all our programs filled by early Term 1 2027.