Table 1

Participant characteristics (n=49)

Variablen (%)
Age (years), mean (SD)37.5 (12.7)
Gender
 Male11 (22.4)
 Female38 (77.5)
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
 Aboriginal16 (32.6)
 Torres Strait Islander8 (16.3)
 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander5 (10.2)
 Neither20 (40.8)
Place of residence
 Capital city17 (37.0)
 Regional city14 (30.4)
 Rural area3 (6.5)
 Remote area12 (26.1)
Education
 Completed year 104 (8.2)
 Completed year 128 (16.3)
 Tertiary entrance course1 (2.0)
 Trade certificate/apprenticeship1 (2.0)
 Other certificate15 (30.1)
 Associate or undergraduate diploma8 (16.3)
 Bachelor’s degree or higher12 (24.5)
Employment*
 Mental health9 (19.2)
 Drug and alcohol5 (10.6)
 Aged care3 (6.4)
 Disability6 (12.8)
 Other health services6 (12.8)
 Community housing and homelessness6 (12.8)
 Education17 (36.2)
 Employment services3 (6.4)
 Centrelink2 (4.3)
 Law enforcement0 (0.0)
 Legal services0 (0.0)
 Financial counselling0 (0.0)
 Other employment15 (31.9)
 Not a ‘front-line’ worker10 (20.4)
Clients are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people
 Some of clients are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander10 (21.7)
 All clients are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander30 (65.2)
 No6 (13.0)
Previous MHFA training
 Yes, less than 5 years25 (51.0)
 Yes, 5 or more years ago5 (10.2)
 No or ‘not sure’19 (38.8)
Other mental health training
 Short course(s)18 (36.7)
 A mental health subject in a course7 (14.3)
 Whole certificate/diploma/degree6 (12.2)
 No or ‘not sure’18 (36.7)
Training in support for suicidal persons
 Yes30 (61.2)
 No or ‘not sure’19 (38.8)
Training in support for self-injuring persons
 Yes21 (42.9)
 No or ‘not sure’28 (57.1)
Personal experience of self-injury*
 Self7 (14.3)
 Family17 (34.7)
 Friends19 (38.8)
 Colleagues9 (18.4)
 Clients/patients22 (44.9)
 Broader community network12 (24.5)
 None of the above9 (18.4)
 I would rather not say2 (4.1)

  • *Multiple responses permitted.

  • MHFA, mental health first aid.