Evaluation of the Older Person Mental Health First Aid Course: Effects on Knowledge, Stigmatizing Attitudes, and Helping Behaviors

J Appl Gerontol. 2025 Jul 8:7334648251352309. doi: 10.1177/07334648251352309. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The Older Person Mental Health First Aid® (MHFA®) course teaches adults practical skills to support older adults (65+ years) who are developing a mental health problem or crisis, including depression, anxiety, psychosis, substance use problems, confusion, and dementia. This study aimed to evaluate its effectiveness in a sample of Australian adults attending the course. Outcomes were assessed before the course, immediately after, and six months later. Measures assessed the participant’s knowledge, stigmatizing attitudes, willingness to help, confidence in- and quality of intended, and actual helping behavior toward an older person with depression or dementia. 148 Australian participants completed the pre-course survey, 133 at post-course and 67 at six-month follow-up. Significant improvements were observed at post and six-month follow-up on knowledge, desire for social distance, confidence, and quality of intended help toward dementia. The Older Person MHFA course may be an effective early intervention education course for supporting older people’s mental health.

PMID:40627829 | DOI:10.1177/07334648251352309