Mental Health First Aid for the Disability Sector 

This course has been customised to meet the needs of those working in the disability sector. Particular attention is paid to the co-occurrence of mental health issues and disability and how this affects the recognition of symptoms, functional impacts and treatments. This course will equip staff with the knowledge and skills to recognise and respond to developing and ongoing mental health issues in their clients, as well as in themselves and their colleagues.

Mental Health First Aid is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or who is in a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate professional treatment is received or until the crisis resolves.

Whilst one in five Australian adults experience a mental health disorder every year, research indicates that people with disability have higher rates of mental health problems than the general population.

It is critical that your staff know how to respond to mental health issues that may be developing in your clients, and that they know how to assist in a mental health crisis.

Mental health problems covered:

• Dual Diagnosis with intellectual disability
• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Psychosis

Crisis situations covered:

• Suicidal behaviour/ thoughts
• Panic attack/acute stress reaction
• Acute psychotic behaviour
• Substance overdose

Participants will learn the signs and symptoms of these mental health problems, where and how to get help and what sort of help has been shown by research to be effective.

This course is for those who provide services to people living with mental illness and intellectual, physical or sensory disability such as employment, accommodation and community support staff.

To discuss how this program can be customised for your group, contact us.

Thank you Tasha, your explanation of the course content was excellent. Your honesty and the examples you gave were inspiring. I feel the strength of the course was giving strategies to deal with signs and symptoms for our service recipients, family and ourselves. I was very impressed with the knowledge you have about the subject matter and your professionalism.

Ms Cahill, Team Leader

Experienced and good presenter - always a key to make 2 days meaningful and interesting. Backed up by up-to-date resources manual. Good balance of activity /media /lecture presentation.

Mr Holden, Team Leader

A must for those who have questions about disabilities, and family and friend's ailments. Knowledge is expanded. Well placed solution diagrams.

Ms TePairi, Supervisor

Product Packages

This is a 2 day course which can be delivered as two consecutive days, two non-consecutive days or as 4 modules of 3.5  hours each. Suitable for up to 18 participants.

We have a number of package options for our courses, to enable us to give you the level of ongoing support that you may require.

Find out more here.

Wellbeing Consults

After attending one of our courses, participants often seek more in-depth discussion about their mental health and wellbeing. These consults can be purchased as a one-off session, as a series of sessions (i.e. a block of 3 sessions) or as part of our ongoing Executive Wellbeing programs.

Find out more about the Wellbeing Consults here.

Find out more about our Executive Wellbeing programs here.

Want a course customised specifically for your group?

We are able to develop a program for your group’s next function, whether it is an intimate lunch and learn or your national conference.

To book this program, find out more about it, or discuss how this program can be customised for your group, contact us.