About the CBH Regional Mental Health Program
Over the last three years, MIFWA has partnered with CBH Group, Lifeline WA, Youth Focus, the Black Dog Institute, and regional grain-growing communities across WA in the CBH Regional Mental Health Program, supporting the mental health and well-being of people living in regional grain-growing communities across WA.
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:
- safeTALK
- Standard Mental Health First Aid
- Youth Mental Health First Aid
- Teen Mental Health First Aid
Next workshop:
To Learn More and Enquire
The CBH Regional Mental Health Program has been extended until September 2024.
We’re looking to continue to work with partners and regional grain-growing communities to promote mental health awareness and train even more people.
To enquire about how you can partner with CBH and MIFWA to provide your regional grain-growing community with mental health and suicide prevention training, contact Janine Defontaine at regional@mifwa.org.au.
The Program Reach So Far
Over the last three years, we’ve held 56 training courses and workshops and trained 761 people across regional grain-growing areas of WA.
This includes 614 mental health first aiders (Teen, Youth, Standard and Community) 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 27 Community Resource Centres, Shires District High Schools, Agricultural and Residential Colleges, and community groups and members to deliver training tailored to the needs of local communities.
And with the CBH Regional Mental Health Program being extended for another year (until September 2024), we look forward to collaborating with even more partners to support regional grain-growing communities.
“I really enjoy training in regional communities and seeing the adults and young people embrace the message of looking after their mental health and also embracing learning on how to support others with their mental health. For me it has been a return to the Wheatbelt where I spent my youth giving me an unique insight into the challenges young people face regionally and so very pleased to know they are getting access to this important training opportunity.”
Romy Pritchard, MIFWA 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
safeTALK
safeTALK is a half-day alertness workshop that prepares anyone over 15, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide alert helper. The workshop is a powerful experience. You can expect to feel challenged, empowered, and hopeful.
safeTALK-trained helpers are essential to suicide-safer communities who work alongside intervention resources to identify and avert suicide risks.
safeTALK’s steps provide a simple yet effective method to engage with people at risk and connect them with resources that can carry out a full-scale intervention.
“I got so much out of the content and it was delivered with such kindness and understanding and in a most direct way. I came away feeling empowered to help connect without feeling overwhelmed by what I thought was my responsibility to find a solution.”
Attendee, safeTALK regional course
What’s on in Regional WA
Click here to view upcoming training in Regional WA
