Thousands of health professional students have had their mental health boosted after accessing a new Australian Government $6.7m funded psychological distress training initiative.
Australian-based global health promotion leader Mental Health First Aid International (MHFAI) has designed a new online Health Professional (HP) education program for student doctors, nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals, with course material designed specifically for the health professional context.
Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride today officially launched the landmark project aiming to reach more than 115,000 students over the next four years.
Led by three Councils of Deans (Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand, the Australasian Council of Deans of Health Sciences, and the Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery), the initiative aims to boost students' mental wellbeing, increase skills for self-care and peer-to-peer support, and prepare students to sustain a healthy career in healthcare.
More than 10,000 students have enrolled in the program since May 2024, with more than 3,000 already completing the early training. Over 80% say they have improved confidence to start a mental health first aid conversation with a fellow student who has signs of mental distress.
James Joseph, a medical student at UNSW who has undertaken the training, said "We are all aware of the higher rates of mental health issues rampant amongst healthcare professionals compared to other fields. The MHFA training help us develop the skills to recognise signs of distress in ourselves and our peers and provide effective support. The training fosters a culture of awareness and early intervention, empowering us as future health professionals to prioritise mental well-being in both personal and clinical settings."
President of Medical Deans, Professor Michelle Leech AM welcomed the funding and stressed the importance of students having this learning opportunity.
"Health professional students themselves can be at heightened risk of mental health issues, facing stresses during their studies and learning in high pressure clinical settings. Being able to recognise the signs that either they or a friend or colleague might be struggling and in need of help and support, and knowing how to access that, is vital and can make all the difference."
The online training course has been specifically designed for health professional students and teaches how to recognise early signs and provide initial support to a peer or other adult who may be experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis, until professional help is received or the crisis resolves. Students who participate in the program can then complete the subsequent facilitated part of the training if they wish, to get MHFAI accreditation lasting three years. This new funding will also support over 110 staff based at the universities involved to be trained as Licensed MHFAI Instructors.
Professor Michelle Lincoln, Deputy Chair of the Australian Council of Deans of Health Sciences said: "The provision of this critical training across allied health, nursing, midwifery and medical students means they will share common knowledge, terminology and approaches which will allow them to support each other as they learn and work together."
Professor Karen Strickland, Chair of the Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery, highlighted that "this online teaching of foundational and practical first aid skills for mental health is an invaluable addition to the health and wellbeing support services that are available to students at their university."
MHFAI CEO Angus Clelland said: "Equipping students with these skills via the new MHFAI HP program will not only ensures they can understand their own mental health during their studies and provide timely support to their peers, but it will also create a foundation for a healthier, more resilient workforce.
"We are seeing an early remarkable return on the Australia Government investment: with most seeing improvements in confidence and skills to support a fellow student and look after themselves," he said.
