'Talk to me': Improving mental health and suicide prevention in young adults

Poor mental health affects one in four people, and young adults are particularly susceptible. Do you feel confident approaching the topic of mental health with people you care about, or are concerned about?

'Talk to Me': Improving mental health and suicide prevention in young adults , is a German-Australian collaboration developed in response to the growing need to provide young people and those around them with the knowledge, skills, and understanding to recognise, identify, and respond to mental health challenges in themselves and others.

Key topics in this MOOC include understanding contributing factors to poor mental health, how to talk about addressing poor mental health, and strategies to increase mental fitness.

Please note: This course contains content that crosses over with TTM2x: Managing Study, Stress, and Mental Health at University (Modules 1 and 2). However, this MOOC contains an extra four modules of content which are aimed at parents, teachers, health professionals, GPs, social workers, counsellors, coaches, and other 'gatekeepers' - people in positions of responsibility with regular contact with young people.

We are grateful to the following organisations for their contribution to and continued support of this MOOC:

• Healthway Western Australia
• The Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators
• Curtin University Teaching Excellence Fund
• Australia-Germany Joint Research Cooperation Scheme - Universities Australia

Module 1: Mental fitness

• Explain what mental health is
• Identify and explain contributing factors to suicide and poor mental health
• Understand the impact of stress of mental health
• Understand your own mental fitness

Module 2: Strategies to increase mental fitness

• Explain why we worry
• Identify and explain contributing factors to negative thinking
• Understand how to apply the ABC model

Module 3: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI)

• Describe the difference between deliberate self-harm and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)
• Understand why NSSI may be used as a coping strategy
• Describe alternative strategies for regulation of emotions
• Learn to use a mindfulness-based task

Module 4: Suicidal behaviour in young adults (SBYA)

• Explain the risk factors often associated with suicidal behaviours in young adults
• Understand the types of questions you can ask a person who may be at risk of suicide
• Learn to use a mindfulness-based task

Module 5: Interventions in SBYA

• Explain general methods of suicide prevention
• Understand how to apply the 'Talk to Me' program when handling an emergency

Module 6: Gatekeeper interventions

• Recognise risk factors for mental health crisis and suicidality
• Describe strategies for responding to a mental health crisis
• Learn alternative strategies for managing a mental health crisis
• Facilitate appropriate collaborative care
• Understand options for self-care when managing others' mental health needs