MHFR – Introduction Course

OVERVIEW

What you’ll gain from this course

The MHFR Introduction Course is your entry point into the world of mental health first response. In about an hour, you’ll build foundational awareness of mental health in the workplace and learn the core principles that underpin meaningful, human-centred support.

By the end of this short course, you’ll walk away with practical insight you can apply immediately, and a clear sense of whether the full MHFR Certified Course is right for you.

Important: This free Introduction is Part 1 of a two-part learning journey. To gain the complete skillset, certification, and access to AI-powered role-play practice, you’ll want to continue into the paid MHFR Certified Course (Part 2). The Introduction gives you the awareness; the Certified Course gives you the capability.

How is this different from Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)?

MHFA helps you understand. MHFR helps you act.

Mental Health First Aid is excellent for raising awareness and helping you recognise signs of mental illness so you can refer someone to professional support. The Mental Health First Responder program goes further, equipping you with the practical skills to be that everyday support: to listen well, regulate emotional crisis, build psychological safety, and lead cultures of wellbeing.

MHFA focuses on early intervention and referral. MHFR focuses on promotion, prevention, and immediate human support. Together they’re a powerful pairing. On their own, MHFR teaches you what to actually do in the moments that matter most.

By completing this course, you will be able to:

• Recognise the scale and impact of mental health challenges in Australian workplaces and understand why early, informed support matters
• Identify early indicators of mental and emotional strain in yourself, colleagues, friends and family
• Understand the difference between mental health, mental illness, strain and distress, and why this distinction shapes how we respond
• Articulate the role and responsibilities of a Mental Health First Responder, including what is (and isn’t) within scope
• Understand basic employer obligations under Australian Work Health and Safety legislation, including psychosocial hazards and ISO 45003 alignment
• Explain the relationship between human needs, emotions and psychological safety at work and at home
• Describe the LIFT framework (Listen, Inquire, Find, Thank) as a universal approach to supporting people through emotional difficulty
• Demonstrate baseline knowledge through a practice quiz designed to consolidate your learning

What you’ll receive

• ✅ Full access to 6 foundational modules (~1 hour of self-paced content)
• ✅ A practice quiz to test and reinforce your learning
• ✅ A Certificate of Participation to share on LinkedIn or with your employer
• ✅ A clear pathway into the full MHFR Certified Course (Part 2) if you choose to continue

Who this is for

This free introduction is ideal for:

• Leaders, managers and team members curious about mental health support in the workplace
• HR, P&C and wellbeing professionals exploring frameworks for their organisation
• Anyone who wants to be a more emotionally aware colleague, friend, parent or partner
• People considering MHFR or MHFA training and wanting to understand the difference

No cost. No obligation. Just an hour of meaningful learning that could change how you show up for the people around you.

What past participants are saying

“I recently completed the Mental Health First Responders online course. What a great experience! I loved the content and how it was presented. The course contained so many helpful supplementary resources which added to my learning experience. I also loved the wonderful balance between practical ‘in the moment’ ideas and lots of more holistic and systemic thinking regarding mental health and wellbeing. Thank you, ShareTree for a great course!” Pippa Rauch, Industrial Psychologist and Career Coach

“I work in workplace wellbeing and deal with mental health policies, practices, and issues daily. This training was a fantastic way for me to upskill and gain greater confidence in managing mental health in all settings, not just the workplace. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to improve themselves and help those around them.” Philip Wolfe, Workplace Wellbeing Specialist

“The leaders at ShareTree truly understand people. They encourage you to conduct a self-review and set goals for your own development, while assisting you to gain the skills to lead your team. I cannot speak more highly of Steven and Rhys. The facilitation skills they both hold is incredibly strong. Steven is a motivator and creates the feeling with all participants that anything is possible. That you too can share in his wisdom and achieve anything that you set your mind to. Rhys is engaging and delivers Mental Health First Responder training with a deep understanding of the topic and issues within life and the workplace.” Michelle Taylor, Co-Founder of YOU in Review

“ShareTree is at the cutting edge of the sciences of education, psychology and whole organisation change. They are innovative, dedicated, and determined in their practical idealism to benefit humanity.” Dr Derek Patton, PhD Character Psychologist, University of Melbourne

🌱 Bringing MHFR to your team or organisation

The online Introduction is a great place to start, and many organisations choose to deepen the learning by running MHFR as a facilitated program for their teams.

Live facilitated delivery options:

• Run the full program in person, hybrid, or online as 3 x 4-hour sessions led by a trained MHFR facilitator
• Bulk licensing discounts available for organisations enrolling larger teams in the certified course

If you’d like to explore facilitated delivery or volume pricing for your team, book a 30-minute discovery call and we’ll help you scope the right approach for your people, budget and timeline.

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OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Describe the current state of mental health in Australian workplaces, including key statistics, trends, and the cost of unsupported mental and emotional strain.
• Identify early indicators of mental and emotional strain in yourself and others, distinguishing between mental health, mental illness, strain, and distress.
• Articulate the role, responsibilities, and scope of a Mental Health First Responder, including what is and isn’t within scope of the role.
• Outline key employer obligations under Australian Work Health and Safety legislation, including psychosocial hazard management and ISO 45003 alignment.
• Explain the foundations of psychological safety and the relationship between universal human needs, emotions, and emotional wellbeing.
• Recognise the universal language of emotions and how feelings signal underlying needs in yourself and others.
• Describe the four stages of the LIFT framework (Listen, Inquire, Find, Thank) as a universal approach to supporting people through emotional difficulty.
• Differentiate between the Mental Health First Responder (MHFR) and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) approaches, and identify when each is most appropriate.
• Demonstrate foundational knowledge through successful completion of the practice quiz.

HOW IT WORKS

A simple, self-paced introduction designed to fit into your week

The MHFR Introduction Course is delivered entirely online through our learning platform. You can complete it at your own pace, on any device, in around an hour.

Your learning journey

Step 1: Enrol for free

Sign up using your email address. You’ll get instant access to the course in our LMS.

Step 2: Work through the 6 foundational modules

Each module is short, focused, and built around real-world application. Mix of video, interactive content, and downloadable resources you can keep.

The 6 modules cover:

• Orientation, Safety & Learning Boundaries, setting yourself up for a meaningful learning experience
• Mental Health, Statistics & Early Indicators, the current state of mental health in Australian workplaces
• Role & Responsibilities of an MHFR, including employer psychosocial obligations
• Psychological Safety & Human Needs, the foundation of healthy teams and relationships
• Understanding Emotions, the language of feelings and unmet needs
• LIFT Framework Overview, your introduction to the core MHFR skillset

Step 3: Complete the practice quiz

A short, low-pressure quiz designed to consolidate your learning and help you reflect on what you’ve absorbed. You can retake it as many times as you’d like.

Step 4: Download your Certificate of Participation

Once you’ve completed the modules and quiz, you’ll receive a downloadable Certificate of Participation. Share it with your employer, add it to your LinkedIn profile, or simply keep it as a marker of your commitment to mental and emotional wellbeing.

Step 5: Decide your next step

At the end of the course, you’ll have a clear sense of whether to continue into the MHFR Certified Course (Part 2). There’s no obligation, just an open invitation.

What you’ll receive

• ✅ 6 self-paced modules (~1 hour total)
• ✅ Practice quiz with unlimited attempts
• ✅ Downloadable Certificate of Participation
• ✅ Access to supplementary resources to explore further
• ✅ Clear pathway to the full MHFR certification

Time commitment

Approximately 1 hour total, completed at your own pace over days or weeks.

Technical requirements

Any modern device with an internet connection. The course works on desktop, tablet, and mobile.
Bringing MHFR to your team or organisation

While the self-paced online certification is powerful, many organisations choose to amplify the impact by running MHFR as a live facilitated program for their people. The shared experience builds team trust, embeds the LIFT and ACT skills more deeply, and creates a common language for emotional support across the organisation.

Live facilitated delivery options:

• Run the full program in person, hybrid, or online as 3 x 4-hour sessions led by a trained MHFR facilitator
• Bulk licensing discounts for organisations enrolling larger teams in the certified course
• Tailored implementation support to embed MHFR principles into your existing wellbeing strategy

If you’d like to explore facilitated delivery or volume pricing for your team, book a 30-minute discovery call we’ll help you scope the right approach for your people, budget, and timeline.

ASSESSMENT

How you’ll be assessed

The MHFR Introduction Course is designed as an awareness-level course, so the assessment is light, low-pressure, and focused on consolidating your learning rather than testing you under pressure.

Practice Quiz

• Format: Multiple-choice questions covering the 6 foundational modules
• Length: Approximately 10 to 15 questions
• Time: ~10 minutes to complete
• Pass mark: Not required to achieve a specific score
• Attempts: Unlimited, you can retake the quiz as many times as you’d like
• Purpose: To help you reflect on what you’ve learned and identify any concepts worth revisiting

What the quiz covers

The quiz covers the core knowledge from each module:

• Mental health awareness, statistics, and early indicators
• The role and responsibilities of an MHFR
• Employer psychosocial obligations
• Psychological safety and human needs
• Understanding emotions
• The LIFT framework

Certification on completion

Once you’ve completed all 6 modules and the practice quiz, you’ll be able to download your Certificate of Participation. This certificate recognises that you’ve completed the awareness training and is suitable for sharing on LinkedIn or with your employer as evidence of your continued professional development.

Important: The Certificate of Participation is not a professional certification. To become a fully certified Mental Health First Responder, you’ll need to continue into the MHFR Certified Course (Part 2) and pass the final assessment.