Keeping our mob strong by strengthening communities Social Emotional Well Being & Mental Health.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on our mental health, and on our social and emotional wellbeing.

The need to be aware and responsive in order to support individuals and communities is becoming more important, as we’re at risk of becoming isolated even further.

This support is often required at times where professional help isn’t immediately available and this is particularly true for our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities who face increased barriers to accessing professional help. It’s vital that we become equipped with Culturally capable Mental Health First Aid skills to respond and support anyone experiencing mental illness in our communities.

Across Australia and throughout the world, staying connected to Culture & Country supports and builds capacity to strengthen the social and emotional wellbeing of our First Nations peoples.

In these challenging times we stand together with our communities to keep each other strong.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid supporting with & for our First Nations Communities.

The Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid (AMHFA) program recognises the need for Culturally responsive Mental Health Frst Aid training to empower individuals and communities.

AMHFA programs ensure that participants are grounded in social and emotional well-being from an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander perspective. The courses are strengths based, which aim to reduce stigma and shame to support confidence to talk about mental health.

All curriculum work for AMHFA courses have been developed by our Aboriginal Curriculum Specialist in consultation with our AMHFA Program team. It has been purposely designed to support our Accredited AMHFA Instructors, as they draw upon their own unique and instrumental local Cultural knowledge, enriching the content and enabling a Culturally informed and safe delivery.

Our courses contain significant tailoring that includes Cultural considerations, Protocols and Yarn ups. The AMHFA program is lucky to have a diverse range of Master Instructors and Trainers who have experience in a wide range of communities to contribute and review course materials.

All our artists and film makers are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. The Cultural way of storytelling is a very important aspect of the AMHFA program. We engage a number of different artists to tell lived experience stories through art and have also transitioned our script writing and film development solely to Aboriginal content developers. Even in subtle ways, such as language used, music or imagery, the importance of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander leadership in these areas is fundamental.

Learn the skills to assist Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who may be experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves, using a practical, evidence[1]based action plan.

Our courses are based on evidence from the ‘expert’ consensus of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health professionals, many of whom also have lived experience of mental health problems.

More information about our core and specialised Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander MHFA courses is available here: https://mhfa.com.au/courses

About the Author: Karen Bates

Karen is a proud Barkindji woman originally from the far west of New South Wales along the Darling River and has strong connections in South Australia and is the Program Manager for the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid program. Karen is passionate and committed to improving mental health, social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples now and for future generations.