Key details
- Duration: 2 days
- Delivery: Blended online – self-paced eLearning & one full day online session
- Cost: Fully subsidised for eligible individuals
Youth Mental Health First Aid (Youth MHFA) builds the skills and confidence to support young people experiencing mental health challenges or emergency.
Trained Youth MHFAiders help reduce stigma, encourage early support, and ensure young people feel heard and supported when they need it most.
The course includes:
- Part 1: A self-paced online module completed on the Mental Health First Aid website. This must be finished before the online session in Part 2.
- Part 2: A facilitator-led online session with real-life examples and skills practice.
After completing the training, Youth MHFAiders can:
- Listen with empathy
- Build respectful, judgement free connections
- Provide practical support
- Encourage access to further help
Educators, leaders, and staff working in ACE and RTOs who want to become accredited Mental Health First Aiders and support young adult students.
To be eligible for this training, you must:
- Work for an organisation with a Funded Activities Agreement (FAA) with the South Australian Government, or be TAFE SA; AND
- Deliver, or help deliver, publicly funded VET and/or ACE in South Australia
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Recognise common signs of mental health experiences in young people
- Use an evidence-based action plan to start a supportive conversation
- Respond to mental health emergencies and provide initial support
- Understand barriers to seeking help and how to reduce them
- Apply self care strategies in their role as a Mental Health First Aider.
Accreditation as a Youth Mental Health First Aider
Catherine McCarthy, Educators SA
Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer
Catherine is an engaging and highly experienced Principal Master Trainer in Mental Health First Aid, delivering Standard, Youth and Teen programs. With a background as a Family Therapist, she brings real life experience, warmth and humour to her training, helping make complex topics easy to understand and practical to use.
Catherine is passionate about building participants’ confidence and equipping people with the skills to recognise mental health challenges, respond effectively and support others with care.