Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an international certificate course, which was originally developed by the ORYGEN Centre of the University of Melbourne in 2001. In this 12-hour certificate course, participants learn how to provide initial help to people with developing mental health problems before professional treatment can be obtained.

On completion of the course, participants will receive a Mental Health First Aid certificate issued by the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong is the organisation authorised by the ORYGEN Research Centre of the University of Melbourne to issue the Mental Health First Aid certificate in Hong Kong.

Since 2008, the course has been launched in HKBU. Up to now (as of June 2025), over 4,000 students and staff members have been trained.

Content:
• Symptoms, causes and treatment: depression, anxiety disorder, psychosis and substance use disorder
• Possible crisis situation arising from these mental health problems
• Five first-aid actions and skills
• Resources available in HKBU & the community for professional help and self-help

MHFA (Face-to-face) (a total of 12 hours of classroom learning)
The course is offered in two training days, with lectures, group discussion and role-play delivered in a classroom setting.



* The courses are subsidised by UGC SEN Fund, programme fee therefore will be exempted.