Let's break down barriers
and thrive together.
Course overview
Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa (MHFA)
About 1 in 5 New Zealand adults experience challenges with mental health in any one year.
This means that at some stage, everyone will have close contact with someone experiencing mental health challenges. MHFA is designed to support people to recognise and respond to mental health challenges and crises in workplaces, homes, whānau and communities.
MHFA will teach you how to provide initial support to adults who may be experiencing mental health challenges or mental health crises, until the crisis resolves, or specialist help is accessed. We learn how to apply mental health first aid using a practical and evidence-based Action Plan.
Mental Health First Aid is:
Innovative and world leading - internationally acclaimed and available in over 25 countries
Developed by professionals and those with lived experience
Supported and informed by evidence, research and clinical treatment pathways
Adapted to the Aotearoa New Zealand context. Te Pou is the current host and license holder for New Zealand.
Adapted for Aotearoa
International evidence consistently shows that Mental Health First Aid:
Improves understanding of mental health challenges, symptoms, treatments, and first-aid strategies
Increases confidence to provide initial assistance
Increase the likelihood of accessing support and
Reduces stigma and discrimination
Supported worldwide
Course content
Mental Health First Aid uses a practical action plan to apply mental health first aid skills, including when people are experiencing a range of mental health crises. We learn how to connect people to appropriate professional help and how to protect and look after ourselves.
Mental Health First Aid is a mental health literacy course for adults aged over 18 years. It is not a therapeutic or support group.
"I learnt how to be approachable and have courageous mental health conversations so people feel more safe and that they can talk to me." (2025)
“The workshop had a really great balance between listening to the instructors, videos that showed lived experience, group work and being able to chat about the topics we've covered, and also our own reflection time. We used role plays to help us learn how we might use our own words to help someone having a mental health challenge. I felt supported and comfortable, and was happy to talk about my own personal experience, which made this course one of the best I have ever taken.”
(2025)
Mental Health
Challenges Covered
Depression
Anxiety
Psychosis
Problematic substance use
"MHFA has taken me from 1/10 in confidence to 9/10. I now know how to listen
actively, approach someone who is struggling, not to be scared and how to refer
people to professional help."
(2024)
“This course was very well run. Many opportunities for different learning styles and a
place for us all to participate and put our skills to use in person within the group.
The space felt very safe and we had plenty of grounding and breaks to help settle the
room after tough discussions.
(2025)
Mental Health
Crises Covered
Suicidal thoughts and behaviours
Non-Suicidal self-injury
Panic attacks
Traumatic events
Severe psychosis
Severe effects from alcohol or other
substance useAggressive behaviours
The ALGEE five step action plan we will learn to apply
Approach, assess and assist any crisis
Listen and communicate non judgmentally
Give support and information
Encourage professional help
Encourage other supports
"I am better equipped with knowledge to use at work and in my life. MHFA has given
me tools for how to confidently approach a mental health conversation."
(2024)
"A workmate has been away because of mental health and I didn't know how to talk
to them. Now I know what I can say and have a plan I will get in touch."
(2024)
"Last night I went home and had a proper conversation with my son for the first time
in a long time. We ended up talking for an hour. I used what I learnt here at MHFA
and he opened up and shared with me everything going on and how he is feeling.
I plan to try to continue the conversation tonight."
(2024)
Course structure
Mental Health First Aid is a 14 hour face to face course typically delivered consecutively over two days. We can tailor the programme to meet your organisation, for example as four 3 hour sessions.
Given the sensitivity and depth of content, we deliver courses with two Mental Health First Aid Instructors. We also keep the group size to a maximum of 20 participants.
The course is highly interactive and based on best practice principles of adult education.
Course outcomes
Build confidence to apply mental health first aid to a person who may be experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis
Understand how to reduce mental health stigma and discrimination in your workplace and community
Achieve a certificate of Accreditation as a Mental Health First Aider valid for three years
Receive a comprehensive Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa resource manual with in-depth practical information and resources.
“The two Instructors were fantastic, facilitated the workshop really well and were just lovely people.”
(2025)
"We created a special bond in this course. I felt safe to share, learn and practice my new MHFA skills.
I feel in such a good headspace coming out of MHFA."
(2025)
Kirsty Pillay-Hansen is the lead Instructor for Peak Wellbeing and Mental Health. She has extensive experience delivering mental health and wellbeing programmes to corporate, local and central government agencies, sports, education and social service sectors.
Kirsty has a Masters (M.A.) with Distinction in Psychology and has held a broad range of management, trainer, facilitator and coach roles across diverse sectors, with a focus on mental health, wellbeing and resilience.
We work from a values base of empowerment, honesty, and respect to create safe and inclusive learning environments. The practical element of the course breaks down barriers and increases participants' confidence, knowledge and understanding about how to have a mental health conversation.
Kirsty works with several other Accredited Mental Health First Instructors to make sure that we can tailor a cofacilitated MHFA course to meet your needs.
We believe that when we can confidently have these conversations in our homes, workplaces, whānau and communities, we generate mental health literacy and create environments where we all can thrive.
Who we are
Kirsty Pillay-Hansen
Lead Instructor
Contact
Download the Mental Health First Aid flyer here. Get in touch to access this information in multiple languages and for course costs.
We offer discounted rates to community organisations and corporate groups.
If you are interested in a MHFA workshop or would like more information, please complete this form and we will be in touch.