Mental health first aid (MHFA), like any other type of first aid, is the help given to a person before appropriate professional help or treatment can be obtained.
First aid of any type has the following aims:
- To preserve life;
- To prevent deterioration of any injury or illness;
- To promote healing; and
- To provide comfort to the person who is ill, injured, or distressed.
MHFA is the help given to someone experiencing a mental health problem before other help can be accessed.
The aims of MHFA are:
- To preserve life;
- To provide help to prevent the worsening of an existing condition;
- To promote the recovery of good mental health;
- To provide comfort to a person experiencing distress; and
- To promote understanding of mental health issues.
MHFA does not teach people to be therapists. However, it does train people in:
- How to ask about suicide;
- How to recognise the signs of mental health problems or distress;
- How to provide initial help; and
- How to guide a person towards appropriate professional help.
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