About the CBH Regional Mental Health Program
Over the last four years, MIFWA has partnered with CBH Group, Lifeline WA, Youth Focus, the Black Dog Institute, and regional grain-growing communities and schools in the CBH Regional Mental Health Program, which supports the mental health and well-being of people living in these communities.
As part of the program, MIFWA provides a variety of mental health and suicide prevention training and workshops for young people (aged 11-19), school communities, adults, and the wider community through a mixture of online and face-to-face delivery.
Courses include:
- Standard Mental Health First Aid
- Youth Mental Health First Aid
- Teen Mental Health First Aid
Upcoming workshops:
- Teen Mental Health First Aid – WA College of Agriculture, Narrogin
28 July, 4 & 11 August 2025 - Teen Mental Health First Aid, Wyalkatchem District High School
12, 19 & 26 May 2025 - Standard Mental Health First Aid, Hyden Community Resource Centre
10 & 11 June 2025, FREE training open to the community. Learn more and register - Standard Mental Health First Aid, Jerramungup Community Resource Centre
24 & 25 July 2025, FREE training open to the community. Learn more and register
The Program’s Reach So Far
Over the last four years, we have delivered 69 training courses and workshops and trained 921 people in WA’s regional grain-growing areas.
This includes 763 mental health first aiders (Teen, Youth and Standard) who together form an invaluable community-based de-escalation network that becomes more powerful with each person trained.
The Power of Community Partnerships
A program like this could only be successful with strong community partnerships. We are grateful to have collaborated with over 29 community groups and schools to deliver training tailored to the needs of local communities.
The CBH Regional Mental Health Program has been extended for a fifth year (until September 2025), and we look forward to collaborating with even more partners to support regional grain-growing communities.
“Having the opportunity to deliver Mental Health First Aid to communities across the Wheatbelt for several years now has been a wonderful experience. Delivering free Mental Health First Aid training to these communities can make such a positive difference. The course teaches you how to support someone who may be struggling with a mental health challenge while waiting for access to professional support and increase your knowledge of options for professional help and other helpful supports and strategies.”
Mark Davies, Mental Health First Aid Trainer
About MIFWA’s Mental Health Training
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Learn how to assist young people who are developing a mental health problem, experiencing worsening of a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis.
Youth Mental Health First Aid is a two-day course that teaches adults about;
- adolescent development
- the signs and symptoms of common and disabling mental health problems in young people, including crisis situations
- how and where to get help when a young person is developing a mental illness, and
- what help research has shown effectiveness and how to provide first aid in crisis situations.
The course is for adults who work, live or care for adolescents, such as teachers, school support staff, parents, sports coaches, community group leaders and youth workers.
“I couldn’t recommend this higher for anyone wanting to increase their knowledge of mental health in youths or increase their awareness of signs and symptoms. If you have the opportunity to do this accreditation, grab it. The more awareness there is, the more young lives could be saved.”
Attendee, Youth Mental Health First Aid regional course
Standard Mental Health First Aid
Standard Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training helps mobilise and empower adults in the workplace and community by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to recognise, understand and respond to another adult experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis.
Over two days, people learn:
- how to assist adults who are developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem or in a mental health crisis until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves.
- how and where to get help when a person is developing a mental illness, and
- what help research has shown to be effective and how to provide first aid in crisis situations.
“My brain is spinning and I know I will have to process it all over the next few weeks, but I am so much more confident to approach the issues with people than I was before. I had a great conversation with my husband this morning in the car around suicide and eating disorders, so already passing on the knowledge!”
Attendee, Mental Health First Aid regional course
Teen Mental Health First Aid
The Teen MHHFA course teaches high school students in Years 7-9 and Years 10-12 how to provide mental health first aid to their friends.
Held over three face-to-face classroom sessions, the course teaches young people:
- about the different types of mental health problems and mental health crisis situations in young people
- how to recognise changes in a friends’ thinking, feelings or behaviour that may indicate the presence of a mental health problem, and
- how to offer initial mental first aid support and how to connect them with a trusted adult.
“It’s good for kids who want to help their friends or themselves.”
Attendee, Teen Mental Health First Aid regional course
What’s on in Regional WA
Click here to view upcoming training in Regional WA
