COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Essential Skills for Mental Health Support Workers course. This program is designed to equip you with the necessary knowledge and practical skills to provide high-quality mental health support.
Working in mental health requires an understanding of complex conditions, strong communication skills, and a commitment to person-centred and recovery-oriented care. This course focuses on the core competencies required to support individuals with mental health conditions in a variety of settings, including community services, disability support, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Mental health support workers play a vital role in assisting individuals with mental health conditions, supporting their recovery journey, and ensuring they have access to the services they need. This section introduces the key responsibilities of mental health support workers, their role within the mental health and NDIS frameworks, and the ethical and professional standards that guide safe and effective practice.
Effective communication and active listening are fundamental to building trust with clients. This section explores strategies such as using open-ended questions, adapting communication for clients with cognitive or emotional barriers, and ensuring interactions are non-judgmental and supportive.
Understanding mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities is essential for providing effective support. This section introduces common mental health disorders, their impact on daily life, and how to recognise early warning signs and symptoms to provide timely assistance.
Mental health support workers are expected to follow a person-centred and recovery-oriented approach in their work. This section highlights the principles of recovery-focused care, empowering clients to set personal goals, and supporting them in developing independence and self-determination.
A crucial part of mental health support is suicide prevention and crisis intervention. This section covers how to identify suicide risk factors, apply evidence-based intervention strategies such as SAFETALK and ASIST, and follow emergency response protocols to ensure client safety.
Mental health workers often encounter challenging behaviours from clients experiencing distress or crises. This section provides de-escalation techniques, explores behaviour triggers, and discusses safety strategies for workers and clients in high-risk situations.
A trauma-informed approach is essential in mental health support. This section explains the impact of trauma on mental health, how to implement trauma-sensitive communication, and ways to create a safe and supportive environment for clients with past trauma experiences.
Supporting clients in daily living and community participation is a key role for mental health support workers. This section explores strategies for helping clients maintain self-care routines, encouraging social engagement, and assisting with access to employment, education, and recreational activities.
Many individuals with mental health conditions require medication as part of their treatment plan. This section provides an overview of common psychiatric medications, their side effects, and the role of support workers in monitoring adherence and recognising adverse reactions.
Clients with dual diagnosis (mental health and substance use disorders) often require specialised support. This section covers harm reduction strategies, the relationship between mental health and substance use, and collaborating with specialist services to provide holistic care.
Cultural competence is vital in mental health support, as cultural background influences perceptions of mental health and access to care. This section discusses providing inclusive and culturally safe support, working with CALD and Indigenous communities, and addressing stigma in diverse populations.
The NDIS provides funding for psychosocial supports to help individuals with persistent mental health conditions improve their daily functioning. This section explains how to work within NDIS funding structures, support participants in goal-setting, and collaborate with allied health professionals.
Mental health support workers have a legal and ethical duty of care to safeguard clients. This section covers identifying and reporting abuse or neglect, maintaining confidentiality and consent, and complying with NDIS and mental health regulations.
Workplace health and safety (WHS) is critical in mental health settings, particularly when working in community or residential environments. This section explores personal safety, risk assessments, and strategies for managing workplace stress to ensure worker well-being.
As part of infection control, hygiene and safety best practices must be followed in mental health settings. This section outlines hand hygiene, PPE usage, and cleaning protocols to prevent the spread of infections.
Mental health support work can be emotionally demanding, making self-care and professional boundaries essential for long-term career sustainability. This section focuses on preventing burnout and compassion fatigue, developing emotional resilience, and accessing supervision and peer support.
Accurate documentation, reporting, and compliance ensure that mental health services are accountable and transparent. This section covers record-keeping best practices, incident reporting, and meeting legal and organisational requirements in mental health care.
By completing this course, you will develop the essential knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to provide safe, ethical, and effective care. This training will prepare you to assist individuals in achieving their recovery goals, improving well-being, and increasing community participation, while also ensuring compliance with NDIS and mental health industry standards.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to the Role of Mental Health Support Workers
- Key Responsibilities in Mental Health Support
- Working Within the Mental Health and NDIS Frameworks
- Ethical and Professional Conduct in Mental Health Support
2. Effective Communication and Active Listening
- Building Trust and Rapport with Clients
- Using Open-Ended Questions and Reflective Listening
- Adapting Communication for Clients with Cognitive or Emotional Barriers
3. Recognising and Responding to Mental Health Conditions
- Common Mental Health Disorders (e.g., Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder)
- Understanding Psychosocial Disabilities and Their Impact
- Recognising Early Warning Signs and Symptoms
4. Providing Person-Centred and Recovery-Oriented Support
- Principles of the Recovery Model in Mental Health Care
- Supporting Clients to Set and Achieve Personal Goals
- Promoting Independence and Self-Determination
5. Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention
- Identifying Suicide Warning Signs and Risk Factors
- Using Suicide Prevention Strategies (e.g., SAFETALK, ASIST)
- Emergency Response Procedures and Referral Pathways
6. Managing Challenging Behaviours and De-escalation Techniques
- Understanding the Triggers Behind Aggressive or Distressed Behaviour
- Techniques for Calming and Supporting Clients in Crisis
- Ensuring Safety for Clients, Support Workers, and Others
7. Trauma-Informed Care and Support Strategies
- Understanding the Impact of Trauma on Mental Health
- Using Trauma-Informed Communication and Practices
- Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment
8. Assisting Clients with Daily Living and Community Participation
- Supporting Clients with Self-Care and Routine Management
- Encouraging Social Engagement and Community Inclusion
- Overcoming Barriers to Employment, Education, and Social Activities
9. Medication Support and Mental Health Treatment Plans
- Understanding Common Psychiatric Medications and Their Side Effects
- Supporting Clients in Medication Adherence and Compliance
- Recognising and Reporting Adverse Reactions
10. Supporting Clients with Dual Diagnosis (Mental Health & Substance Use)
- Understanding the Relationship Between Mental Health and Substance Use
- Harm Reduction Strategies for Clients with Dual Diagnosis
- Working with Specialist Services for Comprehensive Care
11. Cultural Competence in Mental Health Support
- Providing Inclusive and Culturally Safe Mental Health Support
- Working with CALD and Indigenous Communities
- Addressing Stigma and Misconceptions in Diverse Communities
12. Supporting Clients with Psychosocial Disabilities Under the NDIS
- Understanding NDIS Funding for Psychosocial Support
- Working with Recovery Coaches, Case Managers, and Allied Health Teams
- Assisting Clients with Goal-Setting and Capacity Building
13. Safeguarding and Duty of Care in Mental Health Support
- Identifying and Responding to Signs of Abuse or Neglect
- Legal and Ethical Responsibilities in Mental Health Support
- Confidentiality, Privacy, and Consent in Mental Health Care
14. Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) in Mental Health Settings
- Identifying and Managing Workplace Risks and Hazards
- Personal Safety and Risk Assessment in Community Settings
- Dealing with Workplace Stress and Exposure to Traumatic Events
15. Infection Control and Hygiene Best Practices
- Preventing the Spread of Infections in Care Settings
- Proper Hand Hygiene and Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Safe Cleaning and Sanitisation of Care Environments
16. Professional Boundaries, Self-Care and Emotional Resilience for Mental Health Support Workers
- Maintaining Professionalism While Building Trust with Clients
- Recognising Burnout and Compassion Fatigue
- Developing Healthy Coping Mechanisms and Work-Life Balance
- Accessing Supervision, Peer Support, and Professional Development
17. Documentation, Reporting, and Compliance in Mental Health Support
- Importance of Accurate Record-Keeping and Client Notes
- Writing Incident Reports and Risk Assessments
- Complying with Legal and Organisational Reporting Requirements
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 3-4 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.