Youth Mental Health First Aid equips adults who teach, care for, or support young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to recognise, understand and respond to a young person experiencing a mental health challenge or mental health crisis.
Our Youth MHFA Aotearoa course is a two-day, face-to-face workshop that teaches adults how to provide initial support to a young person (aged, or soon to be, 11 to 18) who may be experiencing a mental health challenge.

The evidence-based programme is backed by robust research, and the Aotearoa New Zealand adaptation was informed by people in the Māori, Pacific and rainbow communities, those with lived experience, and clinical advisors. Attendees will receive a Youth MHFA workshop manual which has been specially adapted for Aotearoa New Zealand. This includes more information and resources to support what is taught in the workshop. People who complete Youth MHFA become Youth Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAiders), part of a network of people equipped with the skills, confidence and knowledge to support young people experiencing and living with mental health challenges in Aotearoa New Zealand. Youth MHFA workshops cover a range of topics including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, psychosis, problematic substance abuse, non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal thoughts and behaviours, panic attacks, traumatic events and other situations - these topics can be heavy or triggering and we do take care of our participants, but we know that for some, healing should take priority before this education.

We are running TWO courses in early 2025.

30 - 31st Jan 2025 & 3 -4th March 2025 - both in Tāhuna/Queenstown.
Each day is 7 hours. We provide a light lunch, snacks, workbooks and take-home materials.

Tickets are $50 a head but if cost is a barrier please get in touch - community@clfs.co.nz

This is a COMMUNITY course so our priority groups are parents & whānau, sports coaches, community leaders and those who would not receive this training as a professional opportunity. The course will be tailored for the community participants, not professionals.

Thanks to Karyn from Te Hau Toka & Vicky from Central Lakes Family Services for being our wonderful Facilitators.