Two Days, One Big Step: Western Sydney University Completes Standard Mental Health First Aid

Western Sydney University staff with their certificates after completing the two-day Standard Mental Health First Aid course with Focused Mental Education.

Over two days, a group of staff from Western Sydney University sat down together and did something that sounds simple but rarely is, they learned how to have the conversation most people avoid.

Focused Mental Education recently delivered the Standard Mental Health First Aid course to teams at Western Sydney University. In the twenty-four hours that followed, twenty-two participants left five-star reviews. We are sharing some of them here, in their words, because they say more about the two days than we could.

Why two days, and not two hours

There is no shortage of one-hour mental health awareness sessions available to workplaces. They have their place. But awareness and capability are different things, and the gap between them is where most people freeze.

Standard Mental Health First Aid is a 12-hour, evidence-based course accredited by Mental Health First Aid Australia. Delivered face-to-face, it runs as two six-hour days. That length is deliberate. It creates enough room to move past definitions and into practice, the part where participants actually rehearse what they would say, and discover how much harder it is than it looks on a slide.

“The two day course was very well put together and he has made it a far more understandable course than what I was expecting for myself. I think his gentle approach whilst also being able to correct any misconceptions helps make the participants understand better.”

— Namatai

What the group covered

The course is built around adults supporting adults. Across the two days, participants worked through the signs and symptoms of the mental health problems most likely to appear in an Australian workplace or campus: depression, anxiety, psychosis and substance use problems.

It then moves into the harder territory, the crisis situations. Suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Panic attacks. Non-suicidal self-injury. The aftermath of a traumatic event. These are the moments where people most want to help and least know how, and they are given the time and care they deserve rather than a passing mention.

“This training is incredibly worth the time. Difficult topics are covered with great detail and care.”

— Victoria

Underpinning all of it is the ALGEE action plan, the framework at the heart of Mental Health First Aid:

•        A — Approach the person, assess and assist with any crisis

•        L — Listen and communicate non-judgementally

•        G — Give support and information

•        E — Encourage the person to get appropriate professional help

•        E — Encourage other supports

The value of ALGEE is that it gives people something to hold onto. When a colleague says something that stops you in your tracks, you do not need to improvise a response or diagnose anything. You need a sequence you trust, and the confidence to begin.

“It provided practical knowledge and skills to recognise the signs of mental health problems, respond appropriately, and how to offer initial support to someone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. I particularly appreciated the focus on listening without judgement, communicating effectively, and understanding when professional help is needed.”

— Corine

From knowing to doing

The most valuable outcome of a Standard course is not that people learned a lot. It is that they walk out knowing what to say.

That shift, from recognising that someone is struggling to actually opening the conversation, is the entire point. Plenty of people can spot the signs. Far fewer feel equipped to act on them, because the fear of saying the wrong thing is a powerful reason to say nothing at all. Two days of guided practice, discussion and realistic scenarios is what turns good intentions into a response someone can rely on.

“Improved awareness and greater understanding of mental health issues and gained confidence in dealing effectively if approached with certain situations.”

— Sunita

“Damien is highly knowledgeable, I have loved the case studies, example scenarios shared as it has really hammered in the theory. I’ve learnt so much from this that I will use both personally and professionally.”

— Tee

That last point came up again and again over the two days, and in the reviews afterwards. People did not just leave better equipped at work. They left better equipped at home, with friends, and in the ordinary conversations that make up a life.

“It gave me a lot of valuable and in-depth information on how to support people experiencing mental health challenges, how to approach difficult situations, and how to take care of myself as well.”

— Silvia

Participants who complete the course are accredited as Mental Health First Aiders for three years.

Why this matters in a university

Western Sydney University campus. Staff are often the first to notice when a colleague or student is struggling.

Universities are dense, complicated communities. Academic and professional staff work alongside each other under real pressure, and they sit at the front line for a student population navigating the years in which mental health conditions most commonly emerge. A staff member is very often the first person to notice that something has changed.

“One of the most informed courses I’ve ever done as a social worker in higher education space. Some great techniques to apply in real cases.”

— Crystal

By investing two full days in Standard Mental Health First Aid, Western Sydney University has put trained people into that community, people who can recognise what they are seeing, respond with confidence and connect someone to the right help before a difficult period becomes a crisis.

“This course should be mandatory for everyone. All of us have mental health and having awareness of how to assist someone who may be in need is something we should all aspire to do.”

— Natalee

Damien Burke of Focused Mental Education presents Western Sydney University (Kingswood, NSW) with a Certificate of Recognition for its commitment to workplace mental health.

Congratulations to everyone who took part. You showed up, you engaged with material that is not always comfortable, and you did the work.

Bringing Mental Health First Aid to your organisation

Focused Mental Education delivers accredited Mental Health First Aid training to workplaces, universities, community organisations and teams across Australia. Standard MHFA is available as a two-day face-to-face course, or in blended formats that combine self-paced eLearning with shorter facilitated sessions where two consecutive days is not practical.

“I would recommend this training to all organisations that regularly interact with the general public.”

— Charlotte

If your organisation is ready to move from awareness to capability, we would like to hear from you.

Get in touch: info@focusedmentaleducation.com.au