Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Aotearoa Workshops
Be the person who notices.
Across Aotearoa, more and more people are struggling in silence. Friends, colleagues, parents, and especially our rangatahi are facing challenges that often go unseen.
Our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) workshops are designed to give you the confidence, tools, and understanding to notice when someone isn’t doing well, respond safely, and connect them to the right support.
You don’t need to be a professional. You just need to be someone who cares.
💬 What You’ll Learn
Developed by Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa and delivered by certified Te Pou instructors, these practical, evidence-based workshops teach you how to:
Identify early signs of common mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, psychosis, and substance use
Listen and respond with confidence, empathy, and cultural awareness
Support someone in crisis, including situations like panic attacks, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts
Connect people to the right professional help and community resources
Look after your own wellbeing while supporting others
📘 Choose Your Workshop
🌱 Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA)
This course is for adults who work or live with young people aged 11–18. You’ll learn how to recognise and respond to challenges that affect rangatahi, using simple and effective tools for parents, teachers, coaches, youth workers, and mentors.
💼 Standard Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA)
This course is for anyone supporting adults in workplaces, communities, or everyday life. It builds your ability to notice early signs of distress, handle tough conversations, and provide calm, practical support when someone is struggling.
Both workshops are two-day, interactive experiences that mix practical training, group discussion, and real-world examples. You’ll walk away feeling capable and confident to act when it matters most.
👥 Your Facilitator
Ryan Collier (Founder of Scendent) is a certified Youth and Standard Mental Health First Aid Instructor through Te Pou.
Ryan brings a blend of professional training, creative experience, and lived understanding of mental health to every workshop. His approach is grounded, engaging, and focused on creating a safe, empowering learning space for everyone involved.
There may also be a qualified co-facilitator or support person present in some sessions. Details about this will be shared closer to each workshop or on the booking page.
“This isn’t just a course. It’s a movement toward understanding, empathy, and early action.”
They combine professional training with lived experience to create a learning space that’s real, empowering, and grounded in community values.
“This isn’t just a course. It’s a movement toward understanding, empathy, and early action.”
📜 Certification
When you complete the course, you’ll receive an official Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa certificate that’s valid for three years.
This internationally recognised qualification is endorsed by Te Pou, Aotearoa’s national centre for workforce development in mental health and addiction.
💚 Why Choose MHFA with Scendent
When you attend a Scendent MHFA workshop, you create a double impact.
You gain practical skills to support others’ mental wellbeing.
Your booking helps fund Scendent’s Charitable Trust, which creates free resources, community events, and crisis projects for rangatahi and their whānau across Aotearoa.
It’s not just training. It’s a way to give back and strengthen our communities.
📅 Upcoming Workshops
March / April 2026
Tauranga, Aotearoa New Zealand
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Two full days)
Courses available: Youth MHFA and Standard MHFA
We’re currently gathering Expressions of Interest to confirm numbers and venues.
Filling out the form isn’t a commitment—it just means you’d like to stay updated on upcoming sessions.
Together, we can build a future where more people—young and old—feel seen, supported, and never alone.