Mental health training for staff

Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offer a range of mental health training for staff.

For any enquiries related to mental health training, please email caps-workshops@unimelb.edu.au.

Supporting Student Mental Health (online training)

This 50 - 60 minute online training program for staff of the University of Melbourne aims to assist you in supporting students experiencing mental health problems. Developed by Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS), it covers topics including:

  • An introduction to student mental health
  • How staff can help
  • Responding to students in distress
  • Support services and resources.

To access the training, click on the Enrol button below. After enrolling, when you log-in to the LMS, you will see it in the list of available options on your dashboard.

Enrol in Supporting Student Mental Health

Please note: Chrome is the recommended browser for Canvas.

If you are interested in further mental health training opportunities after completing this program, please see the additional courses offered below or contact the CAPS Workshops and Training team.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training - Supporting students

MHFA training helps mobilise and empower people 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. 

You will learn how to assist someone who may be 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, using a practical evidence-based action plan. 

You will also have the opportunity to practise applying MHFA skills in a group setting.

Who is this course for?

CAPS provides MHFA training to assist staff in their role of supporting students. If time permits, we recommend completing the Supporting Student Mental Health online program prior to attending.

What does MHFA cover?

MHFA is an education course that teaches adults about the signs and symptoms of common mental health problems, including mental health crisis situations.

Topics covered include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety problems
  • Psychosis
  • Substance use problems

and mental health crisis situations including:

  • Suicidal thoughts and behaviours
  • Panic attacks
  • Severe effects of drug or alcohol use
  • Severe psychotic states
  • Aggressive behaviours

After completing the course requirements including a brief online assessment, participants can become an Accredited Mental Health First Aider.

Standard 2-day MHFA Course

CAPS counsellors who are Licensed MHFA Instructors provide this 2-day training to University staff free of charge. Staff can register for the Standard MHFA Course via TrainME. Sessions are listed below.

CourseDateTimeRegister
2-day MHFA CourseWednesday 7 Feb and Thursday 8 Feb 20249.30am - 4.30pmCompleted
2-day MHFA CourseThursday 14 Mar and Thursday 21 Mar 20249.30am - 4.30pmRegistrations closed
2-day MHFA CourseMonday 8 April and Monday 15 April 20249.30am - 4.30pmRegistrations open
2-day MHFA CourseFriday 14 and Friday 21 June 20249.30am - 4.30pmRegistrations open Tuesday 14 May

MHFA Refresher Course

The MHFA Refresher course is an in-person course that allows people who have previously completed a full 2-day MHFA course or a Blended Online MHFA course to refresh their knowledge and skills. This course enable accredited MHFAiders to extend their accreditation for a further 3 years.

CAPS counsellors who are Licensed MHFA Instructors offer the Standard MHFA Refresher Course to current staff free of charge.

CourseDateTimeRegister
Standard MHFA Refresher Course  Tuesday 24 Oct 2023 9.30am - 2.30pmCompleted

MHFA Conversations about Suicide

MHFA Conversations about Suicide is a 4-hour in-person course which teaches participants the skills and knowledge required to safely have a conversation with someone who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

This is not a postvention course and is not recommended for individuals recently bereaved by suicide. It is not a therapy or a support group and it is important that people undertaking the course are feeling relatively robust.

The course will teach you how to:

  • Identify warning signs for suicide
  • Have a conversation with someone experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours
  • Confidently support a person in crisis.

This program is ideal for staff or staff groups who:

  • have a specific interest in furthering their knowledge and skills in responding to a suicidal person, but do not want to enrol in the 2-day Standard MHFA course. Course content is covered in the 2-day Standard MHFA course.
  • have completed the 2-day Standard MHFA course, but would like refresher training or further development of their skills in this area.

Please contact the CAPS Workshops and Training team if you or your staff group are interested in this course.

Tailored mental health training

CAPS can offer tailored mental health training for staff groups on topics such as managing students at risk. To discuss a tailored mental health training session or for further information, please contact the CAPS Workshops and Training team.

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