Wānaka - Youth Mental Health First Aid (2 Day Course)

OUT & About Wānaka, in partnership with Path Wānaka | Ara Ki Wānaka and Community Link, is proud to fund and support this two-day Youth Mental Health First Aid course as part of the 2025 Wānaka Pride Week. 

Hosted by Path Wānaka and facilitated by Karyn Munro of Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa, this evidence-based programme is backed by robust research. The Aotearoa New Zealand adaptation has been shaped by people in the Māori, Pacific, and rainbow communities, as well as those with lived experience and clinical advisors.

About the course: 

This Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course equips adults who teach, care for, or support rangatahi and young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to recognise, understand and respond to them experiencing a mental health challenge or mental health crisis. This Youth MHFA workshop will 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.

You will Learn:

• How to recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health challenges in young people.

• How to respond to an emerging or worsening mental health challenge, and assist a young person until professional help is received or the crisis resolves.

• How to have an open, supportive conversation with a young person about their mental health.

• How to use our practical, five-step ALGEE mental health action plan, so you have a clear process to follow, and can encourage a young person towards professional help and other supports.

• This workshops will 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.

Course Information

• 14-hour workshop in-person over two days, including a comprehensive workbooks and take home materials.

• A light lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please advise if you have specific dietary requirements.  

• This is an accessible space, please advise us if you have any specific needs. 

Contact Sally for more information, accessibility and dietary requirements: manager@pathwanaka.org.nz

Who Should Attend

• Adults who support young rangitahi in our community facing mental health challenges. 

• Note this course is not a therapy or support group, or suitable for those under 18.

We look forward to welcoming all attendees to our next Wānaka course.  

Ngā mihi maioha to our fabulous facilitator Karyn Munro and her team for providing Path Wānaka Ara Ki Wānaka the opportunity to co-host this workshop again in 2025.

Member Agencies: NZ Police, Community Networks/LINK, Te Kura o Tititea | Mt Aspiring College, Kahu Youth Trust, Queenstown Lakes District Council, ADLNZ, Students Against Dangerous Driving, Te Whatu Ora Southern, WellSouth & Te Hau Toka