Thousands of students studying health professions including audiology will receive a mental health boost via a new $6.7 million Australian Government-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 health professionals.
Students studying audiology at six of Australia’s seven universities that offer audiology are eligible for the free online element of the training. They are The University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, The University of Queensland, The University of Western Australia, Flinders University and Charles Darwin University.
Macquarie University is not a member of the Australasian Council of Deans of Health Sciences (ACDHS) so its audiology students are not eligible for the program.
Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Ms Emma McBride officially launched the landmark project yesterday, 30 September 2024, aiming to reach more than 115,000 students over the next four years.
The initiative is 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 course 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.
Free training
Ms Helen Craig, CEO of Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand, told Hearing Practitioner Australia that the online element of the training was free for health professional students who are enrolled in courses where their university is a member of the Australasian Council of Deans of Health Sciences (ACDHS).
“For example, those enrolled in the Masters of Audiology at the University of Queensland.” she said. “Access is organised through their university and they will probably need to speak to their year coordinator or student support lead.”
Medical students including those studying ENT surgery at the (ACDHS) universities are also eligible for the training.
More than 10,000 students have enrolled in the program since May 2024, with over 3,000 already completing early training.
More than 80% say they have improved confidence to start a mental health first aid conversation with a fellow student who has signs of mental distress.
Students can also use the knowledge to assist patients in their future careers.
Mr 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 Mental Health First Aid Training helps us develop the skills to recognise signs of distress in ourselves and our peers.”
Ms Ally Egan, a UNSW undergraduate medical student, said her mental health first aid training had helped her have a mental health first aid conversation with a geriatric patient showing signs of mental distress and connect him to a medical team.
