JOINT INSTITUTIONS STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AMBASSADORS TRAINING PROGRAMME & MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE 2009

2010 BACKGROUND Studies have suggested high rates of psychological morbidity, especially depression and anxiety among university or college students in many countries.
Psychological morbidity in students represents a neglected public health problem. In 2003, a survey conducted among the first year Hong Kong tertiary institution students revealed that clinically significant (moderate severity or above) depression, anxiety and stress levels were found in over 20% of our respondents, indicating a higher than general population prevalence of mental health problems. Students having mental health problems can suffer from serious consequences including school absence, examination failure, physical illnesses and even suicide and death. Peer is always the first contact person that student will turn to when they have emotional distress. Thus training students to help their student fellows and promote mental health activities in the campus is an effective way to enhance students psychological well-being. The Working Group organizes the programme aiming to train up over 100 college students from 10 H.K. Tertiary Institutions.

OBJECTIVES The Objectives of the programme are:

1. to increase the student health ambassadors knowledge, skills and attitude in helping an individual experiencing a mental problem before professional help is obtained. 2. to promote general awareness of mental health within the Hong Kong Tertiary Institutions through on campus mental health promotion programmes organized by the health ambassadors after training.

TRAINEE TARGETED
Over 100 non-final year full-time students from 10 Tertiary Institutions in Hong Kong will be trained: 10 tertiary institutions in Hong Kong (The Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Shue Yan College, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Lingnan University, The University of Hong Kong) will be invited to join the programme. Each of the 10 tertiary institutions will select 10-20 students to be trained. Student has to commit to the whole programme.

FORMAT OF TEACHING
Interactive group discussion, lecture and role plays. Participants are expected to be actively involved.

PROJECT
June 2009 March 2010

AWARDS
Certificate of Mental Health First Aid Course issued by the ORYGEN Research Centre of University of Melbourne Certificate of Joint Institutions Student Mental Health Ambassadors Training Programme issued by HK Tertiary Institutions Health Care Working Group

APPLICATION
Please complete & return the application form to Student Life Center (Rm 5003, lift 3) by 1 April, 2009. Application form can be downloaded from https://sao.ust.hk/counseling/workshops.html

ENQUIRY
sajohnny@ust.hk or 23586147 (Mr. Johnny Lau)