Mental Health First Aid election pitch for essentials course

There are calls for one million Aussies to undertake this first aid course, which is very different to what you might think.

Medical student Ally Egan has undertaken Mental Health First Aid training. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

A mental health organisation is asking the next federal government for almost $40m so it can teach an extra million Australians “lifesaving” skills to help others in distress.

Mental Health First Aid International’s course is usually two days in person and costs hundreds of dollars to partake in.

The Aussie organisation is asking the next federal government to commit $39.89m over five years to develop and train one million Australians through a four-hour “essentials” courses.

The new course would be able to be delivered online or in-person depending on its target audience, and if funding was secured could be rolled out for free, the organisation said.

Instructor and high-profile psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg said mental health first aid (MHFA) empowered individuals with the skills to recognise and respond to mental health crises, saving lives and fostering stronger communities.

“MHFA training breaks down stigma, builds confidence, and equips people to provide immediate support when it matters most,” he said.

Mental Health First Aid International chief executive Angus Clelland said the essentials program was a streamlined, accessible training model designed to equip more Australians with the skills to recognise, respond to, and support someone experiencing a mental health challenge.

Ally Egan, a medical student, knows how to have challenging talks after doing the two-day version of the course. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“We know that early intervention saves lives, and this program makes it easier for people to step in with confidence and care when it matters most,” he said.

“By making MHFA training more accessible and at no cost, we can reach more workplaces, schools, and community groups, helping people before they reach crisis point.”

He said the organisation would on its own train around 500,000 additional people by 2030.

“We need help to scale up and train an additional one million people by the end of the decade and thereby make a real difference to the mental health and wellbeing of Australians,” he said.

Ahead of the federal election, Mr Clelland called on all parties to support investment in MHFA as a proactive step towards reducing the burden on clinical services and improving mental health outcomes.

The program was started in Australia and has been taken up by millions around the world, attracting support from celebrities like Lady Gaga.

Medical student Ally Egan undertook MHFA training last year through her university.

The free course, especially tailored to health students, was offered as a hybrid model including online and in-person sessions.

She said it offered a helpful segue into learning how to handle challenging discussions.

“I’ve been able to use that in the professional and personal setting … having difficult conversations with friends but being able to be more confident and just knowing what support services are available,” Ms Egan said.

The course helped her to recognise symptoms in friends, and one had even sought therapy after they shared a conversation, Ms Egan said.

Ms Egan said the training had helped her be more comfortable navigating “more challenging topics with some patients”.

The 23-year-old supports the organisation’s bid to expand its reach.

“I think it’s going to be really important just to have more people in the community who have the skills,” she said.

Psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg, Picture: Supplied

Neither major party specified whether they would commit to the MHFA ask.

A federal government spokesperson said it had invested more than $7m in MHFA training to provide training to medical, nursing, midwifery, and allied health students.

Senator Anne Ruston, Opposition spokeswoman for health, said mental health and suicide prevention remained one of the Coalition’s highest priorities.

“We will invest an additional $400m to deliver a world-leading focus on youth mental health,” she said.

“We will make further announcements in due course.”

Originally published as Mental Health First Aid election pitch for essentials course