Just a heads up, today’s newsletter talks about mental health and suicide. Help is available 24/7 through Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Statistics on the declining state of our mental health aren’t new and probably don’t even surprise many of you anymore.

A recent global study from the Lancet Psychiatry Commission – a world-leading authority when it comes to mental health research – conclusively found young people, in particular, are experiencing concerningly high rates of mental ill health.

Three in four mental ill-health disorders occur by the age of 25, with 15 being the peak onset age.

We have first aid kits to treat injuries, training courses to learn CPR, and automated defibrillators in some public spaces… But what tools do we have to address mental health issues?

Could we live in a country where physical and mental health are treated with the same urgency?

While we’re used to sobering headlines on mental health, what seems to be rarer is the conversation around solutions. Today, I want to explore one idea being discussed more and more: Mental health first aid training. What is it, and how might it help shift the dial on the mental health crisis?

Australian employers are subject to first aid regulations. For example, first aid kits are mandatory in all workplaces. Safework Australia – the national workplace health and safety regulator – says “first aid can mean the difference between life and death.”

First aid is all about intervening to help – knowing what to do on the spot when the unpredictability of life delivers some curveballs and horrors. Workplaces are responsible for ensuring their first aid practices are up to scratch. Does everyone know where the kit is? Does it have enough Band-Aids? Are enough people trained to help someone who trips over?

Employers who fail to meet their first aid obligations risk significant fines. For example, in NSW, penalties can exceed $40,000, while in Queensland, breaches could lead to around $10,000 fines.

But according to the experts, a person is much more likely to experience a mental health issue than a physical emergency in the workplace.

Dr Amy Morgan is a Principal Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, and a long-time researcher of mental health first aid. She argues safer workplaces should be armed and ready to protect employees’ mental and physical health ​​— but knowing how to support someone in mental distress can be complicated.

That’s where mental health first aid training can come in.

Lara Bisley from St John Ambulance NSW helps run mental health first aid courses, and says mental health discussions are often “taboo”.

“People often don’t want to pry into people’s personal lives, but it can make a really huge difference if someone is willing to ask the [right] question,” she told TDA.

So, how do we know what the right questions are? Is mental health first aid just training people to be…nice?

I put that question to Dr Morgan, who rightly laughed at my cynicism.

“Part of the skills of providing mental health first aid is being a supportive listener, which you could argue is being nice.

“It does go beyond that. It teaches more specialised skills… such as assessing risk of harm or suicide”.

Many not-for-profit organisations provide mental health first aid qualifications in Australia – including the Red Cross, St John Ambulance, and the dedicated training provider: Mental Health First Aid Australia.

The qualification teaches people how to identify when someone might be struggling, and practical skills to address it and point them to the best support options.

The training is summarised through the acronym, ALGEE: the mental health action plan: Approaching, Listening, Giving reassurance, Encouraging professional help, and Encouraging other self-help.

A good way to remember it is as ‘all g’ (all good) – or, algae, if you’re more into aquatic plants.

We’re taught the first aid response ‘DRS ABCD’ in the classroom and see it pinned on pool fences. Should we be doing the same for ‘ALGEE’ in our schools and workplaces?

A 2021 study from the International Journal of Mental Health Systems found young people who attended mental health training courses had “increased knowledge about mental illness and reduced stigma”.

Researchers are still trying to figure out the tangible benefits of mental health first aid. The jury is still out, but experts say this is more likely due to a lack of data than anything else.

Optus is one of many businesses choosing to upskill some of their staff – including those in customer-facing roles – in training to respond to mental health crises.

The telcos’ Work Health and Safety Manager, Megan McLaren, told TDA learning how to provide “real-time support and assistance” had been an “eye-opener” for staff.

She said the training has helped staff support their colleagues and customers in response to “unexpected circumstances”.

“In first aid, you see a cut, you put a Band-Aid on it, and you move the person on to the right support if they need it,” McLaren said.

“For mental health, it is more subdued and not as well recognised. But to support people in that moment is vital.”Secti Does it work?

The going rate for one or two-day training courses for mental health first aid is around $250-400.

Upskilling all staff at bigger workplaces would be expensive, but governments are warming to the idea of funding the initiative.

Some organisations offer free training like the Black Dog Institute in NSW, with State Government funding. It offers free mental health training to businesses with fewer than 200 employees and not-for-profit organisations. The Black Dog Institute says the training is designed to upskill people with the “practical tools to talk about and support mental health at work.”

The Federal Government has allocated some funding to boost “the scale and reach of Mental Health First Aid training courses across Australian communities, including in schools and businesses.”

In a statement to TDA, Assistant Mental Health Minister Emma McBride said the training “has the potential to reduce the longer-term impact of mental ill health on the Australian economy.” She did not signal whether these courses would be made compulsory.

Mental ill health and suicide are estimated to cost the Australian economy $200-220 billion a year in areas like lost productivity, cost of care, and reduced life expectancy.

Lara Bisley from St John Ambulance said mental health training has a “return on investment”.

“We see real outcomes of people being able to support their colleagues, actually having an improved mental health, knowledge, and empowerment.”ec

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