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Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an international certificate course 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 situations arising from these mental health problems
  • Five first-aid actions and skills
  • Resources available in HKBU & the community for professional help and self-help

 

Mode of Teaching


MHFA (Face-to-face)

The course is offered in either two whole-day or four half-day modes (12 hrs), with lectures, group discussion and role-play delivered in a classroom setting.

 

MHFA (Online)

The course is offered in two components: a 7-hour eLearning and two 2.5-hour instructor-led sessions, which are to be delivered via video conferencing.

 

Terms and conditions


1. Upon successful enrollment of the Mental Health First Aid Standard Course (Online)/ (Face-to-Face) (“the course”), you shall agree to:

If you wish to withdraw from the course, please submit your application via email to cdc@hkbu.edu.hk at least 10 days before the commencement of the first session.

 

2. The Counselling and Development Centre (“CDC”) reserves the right to charge you HK$1,000 for the training fees incurred if:

  • You fail to complete the full course; and
  • You do not apply for course withdrawal at least 10 days before the commencement of the first session.

 

3. CDC is committed to supporting students with special educational needs to join different co-curricular activities. If you require any special accommodations during the course:

  • Please notify us via email to cdc@hkbu.edu.hk after registration/confirmation of your participation and before the commencement of the course, specifying the special accommodation needed as well as providing documentary evidence, such as medical proof.

 

For Student Leaders in Village CARE / Undergraduate Halls
1)
Group 1
 Teaching modeFace-to-face
 Date & time

Training day 1 : 7 Aug 2025 (Thu) 10:00 - 13:00 & 14:15 - 17:15

Training day 2 : 8 Aug 2025 (Fri) 10:00 - 13:00 & 14:15 - 17:30 *

 VenueAAB706
 LanguageEnglish
 Capacity35
 EnrolmentPlease contact the Student Accommodation Section for more details.
 Remarks

* You will be awarded a Mental Health First Aid certificate given full attendance in the 2-day training.

 
2)
Group 2
 Teaching modeFace-to-face
 Date & time

Training day 1 : 7 Aug 2025 (Thu) 10:00 - 13:00 & 14:15 - 17:15

Training day 2 : 8 Aug 2025 (Fri) 10:00 - 13:00 & 14:15 - 17:30 *

 Venue

AAB708

 LanguagePutonghua
 Capacity35
 EnrolmentPlease contact the Student Accommodation Section for more details.
 Remarks

* You will be awarded a Mental Health First Aid certificate given full attendance in the 2-day training.

 
3)
Group 3
 Teaching modeOnline (eLearning + two video-conferencing sessions)
 Period of self-paced interactive eLearningFrom 21 Jul to 8 Aug 2025
 Date & Time of video-conferencing sessions9 Aug 2025 (Sat) 14:00 - 16:30 & 17:30 - 20:00 *
 LanguageCantonese
 Capacity15
 EnrolmentPlease contact the Student Accommodation Section for more details.
 Remarks

* You should complete the self-paced interactive eLearning before attending the video conferencing sessions.

Due to the technical concerns of the eLearning platform, students should be in Hong Kong when they take the course.

The courses are fully subsidised by the Student Accomodation Section, and the programme fee will therefore be exempted.

 

Open Courses for Students Taking UGC-funded Programme
1)
Group A
 Teaching modeFace-to-face
 Date & time

Training day 1 : 20 Sep 2025 (Sat) 10:00 - 13:00 & 14:15 - 17:15

Training day 2 : 27 Sep 2025 (Sat) 10:00 - 13:00 & 14:15 - 17:30 *

 VenueTo be announced
 LanguageCantonese
 Capacity35
 Enrolment

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and SPACES ARE LIMITED!  

Enrolment will open at 9 am on 1 Sep 2025 (Mon).

Registration link will be announced in due course.
 Remarks

* You will be awarded a Mental Health First Aid certificate given full attendance in the 2-day training.

  CCL
 
2)
Group B
 Teaching modeFace-to-face
 Date & time

Training day 1 : 20 Sep 2025 (Sat) 10:00 - 13:00 & 14:15 - 17:15

Training day 2 : 27 Sep 2025 (Sat) 10:00 - 13:00 & 14:15 - 17:30 *

 Venue

To be announced

 LanguagePutonghua
 Capacity35
 Enrolment

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and SPACES ARE LIMITED!  

Enrolment will open at 9 am on 1 Sep 2025 (Mon).

Registration link will be announced in due course.

 Remarks

* You will be awarded a Mental Health First Aid certificate given full attendance in the 2-day training.

  CCL
 
3)
Group C
 Teaching modeFace-to-face
 Date & time

Training day 1 : 4 Oct 2025 (Sat) 10:00 - 13:00 & 14:15 - 17:15

Training day 2 : 11 Oct 2025 (Sat) 10:00 - 13:00 & 14:15 - 17:30 *

 VenueTo be announced
 LanguageEnglish
 Capacity35
 Enrolment

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and SPACES ARE LIMITED!  

Enrolment will open at 9 am on 1 Sep 2025 (Mon).

Registration link will be announced in due course.

 Remarks

* You will be awarded a Mental Health First Aid certificate given full attendance in the 2-day training.

  CCL
 
4)
Group D
 Teaching modeOnline (eLearning + two video-conferencing sessions)
 Period of self-paced interactive eLearningFrom 16 to 25 Sep 2025
 Date & Time of video-conferencing sessions26 Sep & 3 Oct 2025 (Fri) 14:30 - 17:00 *
 LanguageCantonese
 Capacity15
 Enrolment

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and SPACES ARE LIMITED!  

Enrolment will open at 9 am on 1 Sep 2025 (Mon).

Registration link will be announced in due course.

 Remarks

* You should complete the self-paced interactive eLearning before attending the video conferencing sessions.

Due to the technical concerns of the eLearning platform, students should be in Hong Kong when they take the course.

  CCL 

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

 

For Mainland Students
1)
Group 1
 Teaching modeOnline (eLearning + two video-conferencing sessions)
 Period of self-paced interactive eLearningFrom 18 to 24 Sep 2025
 Date & Time of video-conferencing sessions25 Sep & 2 Oct 2025 (Thu) 10:30 - 13:00 *
 LanguagePutonghua
 Capacity15
 EnrolmentPlease contact Mr Zac Cheung of the Mainland Student Service Unit at 3411-2280 for more details.
 Remarks

* You should complete the self-paced interactive eLearning before attending the video conferencing sessions.

Due to the technical concerns of the eLearning platform, students should be in Hong Kong when they take the course.

 
2)
Group 2
 Teaching modeFace-to-face
 Date & time

Training day 1 : 13 Oct 2025 (Mon) 10:00 - 13:00 & 14:15 - 17:15

Training day 2 : 20 Oct 2025 (Mon) 10:00 - 13:00 & 14:15 - 17:30 *

 Venue

To be announced

 LanguagePutonghua
 Capacity35
 EnrolmentPlease contact Mr Zac Cheung of the Mainland Student Service Unit at 3411-2280 for more details.
 Remarks

* You will be awarded a Mental Health First Aid certificate given full attendance in the 2-day training.

 
3)
Group 3
 Teaching modeOnline (eLearning + two video-conferencing sessions)
 Period of self-paced interactive eLearningFrom 17 to 30 Oct 2025
 Date & Time of video-conferencing sessions31 Oct 2025 (Fri) 10:30 - 13:00 & 14:30 - 17:00 *
 LanguagePutonghua
 Capacity15
 EnrolmentPlease contact Mr Zac Cheung of the Mainland Student Service Unit at 3411-2280 for more details.
 Remarks

* You should complete the self-paced interactive eLearning before attending the video conferencing sessions.

Due to the technical concerns of the eLearning platform, students should be in Hong Kong when they take the course.

 
4)
Group 4
 Teaching modeOnline (eLearning + two video-conferencing sessions)
 Period of self-paced interactive eLearningFrom 28 Oct to 3 Nov 2025
 Date & Time of video-conferencing sessions4 & 11 Nov 2025 (Tue) 10:30 - 13:00 *
 LanguagePutonghua
 Capacity15
 EnrolmentPlease contact Mr Zac Cheung of the Mainland Student Service Unit at 3411-2280 for more details.
 Remarks

* You should complete the self-paced interactive eLearning before attending the video conferencing sessions.

Due to the technical concerns of the eLearning platform, students should be in Hong Kong when they take the course.

 
The courses are subsidised by the MSS Fund, and the programme fee will therefore be exempted.

 

1)
Group A
 Teaching modeFace-to-face
 Date & time

Session 1 : 25 Nov 2025 (Tue) 14:00 - 17:00

Session 2 : 27 Nov 2025 (Thu) 14:00 - 17:00

Session 3 : 2 Dec 2025 (Tue) 14:00 - 17:00

Session 4 : 4 Dec 2025 (Thu) 14:00 - 17:15 *

 VenueTo be announced
 LanguageEnglish
 Capacity35
 EnrolmentPlease contact Mr. Ken Wong of the Human Resources Office at ext. 2027 for more details.
 Remarks

* You will be awarded a Mental Health First Aid certificate given full attendance in the 4-session training.

 
2)
Group B
 Teaching modeFace-to-face
 Date & time

Session 1 : 3 Dec 2025 (Wed) 14:15 - 17:15

Session 2 : 5 Dec 2025 (Fri) 14:15 - 17:15

Session 3 : 10 Dec 2025 (Wed) 14:15 - 17:15

Session 4 : 12 Dec 2025 (Fri) 14:15 - 17:30 *

 VenueTo be announced
 LanguageCantonese
 Capacity35
 EnrolmentPlease contact Mr. Ken Wong of the Human Resources Office at ext. 2027 for more details.
 Remarks* You will be awarded a Mental Health First Aid certificate given full attendance in the 4-session training.