Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa

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Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa

The home of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Aotearoa, licensed to Te Pou in Aotearoa New Zealand MHFA Aotearoa is licensed in New Zealand to Te Pou.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Aotearoa is an evidence-based, internationally renowned programme that gives people the skills, knowledge and confidence to recognise and respond to people experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. We believe that anyone can have a conversation that can save a life, and everyone should know how. MHFA Aotearoa provides training to people that wish to become ac

credited MHFA instructors in the Standard, Workplace and Youth programmes. These instructors can go on to teach MHFA in their workplaces, organisations, schools and communities, creating a network of people trained to give mental health first aid across the country. Community guidelines: Please be kind and courteous in your comments, and treat others with respect. No bullying or hate speech, self-promotion or spam content – this will be removed by our admin team.

25/08/2026

New milestone: 13,000+ MHFAiders in Aotearoa 👏

We are pleased to see the number of Mental Health First Aiders in Aotearoa grow - there are 13,322 people in New Zealand who have completed a two-day workshop (as of 24 August).

These figures highlight steady nationwide growth, with a noticeable rise in the Youth Mental Health First Aid workshops this year (with 553 people attending the two-day Youth MHFA workshops since April). 🧡

Thank you to everyone who has attended a workshop and to our MHFA instructors for your incredible effort and passion to help us achieve this milestone! 🙏

20/08/2026

Earlier this month, our programme manager Sarah Christensen co-delivered Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to a group of kaimahi from across Christian Camping NZ, hosted at C*C (Christian Youth Camps) in Ngāruawāhia 🏕️

Fifteen kaimahi spent two days building their skills, knowledge and confidence in how to support young people experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis.

A huge thank you to the kaimahi and leaders from:
• C*C (Christian Youth Camps)
• Narrows Park
• Tōtara Springs
• Karakariki Christian Camp

"Christian Camping is a dynamic place that is constantly welcoming people from all walks and stages of life, so pastoral sensitivity and awareness of mental health challenges like anxiety and depression is paramount," said Thomas Dravitzki, Leadership Coordinator at Christian Camping New Zealand.

Thomas said he liked that Youth MHFA training was “grounded in empirical research, expert opinion, and lived experience”, offering genuine value to Christian leaders.

"This course is highly practical, allows for context specific application, and invites participants to ask questions, so they can be effective Mental Health First Aiders. I recommend this training to anyone who has a duty of care in camping contexts and beyond."

Congratulations to everyone who completed the two-day Youth MHFA workshop for your dedication and care for rangatahi in your camps and wider community 🧡

Ngā mihi nui to Steve Harries for organising the training and Sarah Keelty for co-facilitating.

12/08/2026

Life for young people today looks different to a generation ago, and schools are on the front line of that change.

"I think life is a lot more complex now than what it maybe has been in the past," says Amy Joe, Director of Wellbeing at Scots College Wellington.

Young people today say that mental health is the biggest issue facing their generation, and there are lots of issues that are causing anxiety for rangatahi, including economic uncertainty, concerns about the future, climate change and the world, and pressures from social media, with relationships, or in school or sports.

Schools are often a place where early mental health challenges are noticed, and early intervention can make a difference to rangatahi.

In May 2024, five Scots College staff trained as Youth Mental Health First Aid instructors and, to date, they’ve run eight Youth MHFA workshops for staff and their whānau/parent community, reaching 155 adults. This is having a positive impact - with a network of adults trained to recognise and respond to young people experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis, to support them and guide them to professional help, if needed.

Watch the video to find out more 👇

30/07/2026

Future-proof your organisation's wellbeing strategy.

Animates Vetcare NZ has trained over 100 staff in their organisation as Mental Health First Aiders. Hear from Animates' head of people and capability, Juliet Davies, who speaks to the importance of embedding MHFA Aotearoa in their wellbeing strategy.

It’s not too late to sign up for our upcoming Standard MHFA new instructor training in Wellington, 10 to 14 August.

👉 Register here: https://www.tepou.co.nz/events/standard-mhfa-new-instructor-training-wtg2026

22/07/2026

You’ve thought about it. Now it’s time to act.

Join the Standard Mental Health First Aid new instructor training in Wellington, 10 to 14 August, and be part of a nationwide movement equipping managers and leaders to better support the wellbeing of their teams.

Learn from experienced Mental Health First Aid trainers, deepen your knowledge and skills, and gain a MHFA Aotearoa instructor accreditation so you can confidently deliver our internationally recognised Standard MHFA programme inside your organisation or workplace.

Spots are filling quickly! Don’t miss out.

👉 Register here: https://www.tepou.co.nz/events/standard-mhfa-new-instructor-training-wtg2026

20/07/2026

Congratulations to our newest cohort of Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructors 🎉

Tamzin Walker and Karyn Munro spent a week in Ōtautahi Christchurch delivering the training to kaimahi from Oranga Tamariki, Collaborative Trust, Stepping Stone Trust, Canterbury, Tī Wana Services, and a school nurse.

Tamzin, MHFA instructor development advisor, shared her reflections:

"One of the highlights for me, as a trainer, was seeing people from very diverse backgrounds and sectors come together with a shared commitment to supporting young people. Their openness, insight, and willingness to learn from one another created an environment where we could have robust discussions and some courageous conversations about mental health."

We are grateful to these wonderful people and organisations for their ongoing commitment to youth mental health 🧡 They are able to deliver invaluable training back to their communities, creating safe spaces for young people to thrive.

Want to deliver your own Youth MHFA workshops? Our next new instructor training is in October in Wellington.

👉Express your interest here: https://www.tepou.co.nz/events/youth-mhfa-new-instructor-training-wellingtonoct2026

17/07/2026

Great leaders build safe teams.

Hear from the CEO of Animates Vetcare NZ, Neil Cowie, who speaks on the impact of Mental Health First Aid in their organisation and wider community.

Bring Mental Health First Aid to your workplace with our 5-day instructor training in Wellington this August.

👉 Sign up now: https://www.tepou.co.nz/events/standard-mhfa-new-instructor-training-wtg2026

15/07/2026

Ka P**a Ka Ora Emerge Aotearoa is investing in the hauora of both its kaimahi and the wider community by training 15 staff as Standard Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA) instructors. Alongside its existing Youth Mental Health First Aid instructors, Emerge Aotearoa's growing team of trained facilitators will deliver workshops that build confidence in meaningful mental health kōrero, supporting people and whānau to seek help early and thrive.

We congratulate Emerge Aotearoa for their commitment to mental health and wellbeing in their organisation, and the community! 🎉

For organisations, investing in Mental Health First Aid helps:

👉 build mental health literacy across teams

👉 reduce stigma and increase confidence to talk about mental health

👉 support earlier intervention and help-seeking

👉 strengthen psychologically safe workplace cultures

👉 equip staff with practical skills to recognise and respond when someone in their workplace, community or whānau is experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis.

Learn more about our programmes: https://www.tepou.co.nz/initiatives/mental-health-first-aid-aotearoa-new-zealand

Register for our next instructor training: https://www.tepou.co.nz/events/standard-mhfa-new-instructor-training-wtg2026

02/07/2026

🎉 Competition winner announcement! 🎉

A big thank you to everyone who entered our very first MHFAider Insider giveaway.

Congratulations to Hannah Cruickshank from Oamaru, whose name was drawn at random! 🥳

Hannah has won our much-loved Algee the Kiwi soft toy from MHFA Aotearoa, along with a tote and a set of wellbeing pins from our friends at Just a Thought.

Ngā mihi to everyone who entered. Keep an eye on future editions of the MHFAider Insider for more giveaways, inspiring stories, practical resources, and opportunities to keep building your Mental Health First Aid knowledge.

The MHFAider Insider is our newsletter for Mental Health First Aiders – people who have completed the two-day MHFA Aotearoa training. If you're a MHFAider and would like to receive our next newsletter in September, email [email protected] and we'll add you to the mailing list.

24/06/2026

G: Give support and information 💬

ALGEE is Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa's five-step action plan that you learn in our two-day workshop. It gives you the skills, knowledge and confidence to support someone experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis.

The third step - Give support and information - is all about discussing possible options and supporting the person to make informed decisions.

Helpful tips:

✅ ensure the person has had a chance to fully express themselves before you offer advice. Don’t minimise or dismiss their experience

✅ be patient, not pushy. Encourage the person you are supporting with kindness even if it is not reciprocated

✅ offer information, but don’t assume they know nothing. Offer resources that are accurate and reliable for their situation.

Giving support and information in an appropriate way helps the person you’re supporting feel seen, understood and safe.

Come along to a MHFA workshop and learn how to use the full ALGEE action plan: https://www.tepou.co.nz/events?eventType=&free=false&location=&onlineOnly=false&provider=400407&sort=event_oldest&startDate=

Address

600 Great South Road, Ellerslie
Penrose
1051

Website

http://mentalhealthfirstaid.nz/

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