Mandatory Mental Health First Aid Course

In response to the Education Bureau's advocacy of promoting mental health awareness among students, the University launches a University-wide student mental health enhancement scheme starting from 2024/25 academic year. One of the core components is to implement a mandatory 12-hour “Mental Health First Aid” (MHFA) course, accredited by the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong (MHAHK), for all year one face-to-face undergraduate students in the 2024/25 academic year. The aim of the course is to equip students with the knowledge to identify early symptoms of mental disease and proactively seek help before their mental health situation deteriorates.

Course Content

To develop basic understanding of common mental health illnesses: depression, anxiety disorder, substance use disorder and psychosis;
To identify symptoms of mental problem or mental health crisis;
To learn the principles and methods of mental health first aid; and
To assist persons in need to seek professional treatment, services and make use of appropriate community resources.

Target

All year one face-to-face undergraduate students in the 2024/25 academic year.

Requirement

Target students must complete the course within their year one study. Otherwise, their progression to the second year will be affected.

Mode of Teaching

Stipulated by MHAHK, the course is offered in either two whole-day (2 sessions, 6 hours each) or four half-day mode (4 sessions, 3 hours each), a total of 12 hours with lectures, group discussion and role-play delivered in a face-to-face classroom setting.

Course Schedule for 2024 Autumn Term

Roadmap

Note:

The above course schedule is for reference only and will be subject to change according to the actual teaching needs. Students should refer to the “Class Schedule” section on MyHKMU to review the finalized schedule for all courses in 2024 Autumn Term.
Arrangements of classes will not be the same for each school/programme based on their course allocation in each term. For students in Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration (B&A School), Bachelor of Nursing with Honours in Mental Health Care and Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physiotherapy, the course will be pre-assigned by the School/Programme according to your study schedule, and your course schedule may be different from the above. Students other than the above-mentioned schools/programmes should enrol the course by themselves during the course enrolment period of each term according to the course enrolment information given by the Registry before the commencement of each term, on a first-come-first-served basis.
Students are not allowed to drop the sections commencing in Week 1 or 2 after enrolled. The enrolment of these sections for 2024 Autumn Term will be closed on 28 August 2024 at 5:00 pm.

Medium of Instruction

Cantonese or English

Quota

30 students per class

Course Completion

Students have to fulfil the following course requirements to complete the course.

Attend all classes as scheduled;
Pass the course MC quiz; and
Complete the “Pre-course questionnaire”, “Post-course questionnaire” and “Course evaluation”.

Course Certificate

Students who have completed all course requirements will obtain an internationally recognized course certificate within 6 weeks.

FAQ

Course Eligibility

Do I need to take the course?

Only year one face-to-face undergraduate students in the 2024/25 academic year are mandated to take the course. Having said that, SAO will organize MHFA course for students in other study years irregularly throughout the academic year, normally every two months. If students are interested in the course, they are advised to stay updated with SAO's promotion.

I have changed my study programme as a year one student in 2024/25 academic year. Do I need to take this course?

This mandatory course targets to all year one face-to-face undergraduate students in the 2024/25 academic year. Hence, students who change their study major as a year one student are required to fulfil this course requirement.

Course Enrolment

What are the Course Code and Course Title?

The course is housed under the School of Nursing and Health Sciences (N&HS). The details are as follows.

What is the language of learning materials?

The medium of instruction will be available in Cantonese and English, while the language of learning materials will be in Traditional Chinese and English respectively. Students can enrol in the course according to their own preference.

When should I enrol in the course?

Arrangements of classes will not be the same for each school/programme based on their course allocation in each term.

For year one undergraduate students in Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration (B&A School), Bachelor of Nursing with Honours in Mental Health Care and Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physiotherapy:
The course will be pre-assigned by the School/Programme according to your study schedule.

For other students:
Please enrol in the course for the 2024 Autumn Term through the Course Enrolment System on 28 August 2024, between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. For details, please visit the Course Enrolment for the 2024 Autumn Term Webpage. Please note that the course will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Students are not allowed to drop the sections commencing in Week 1 or 2 after enrolled. The enrolment of these sections for 2024 Autumn Term will be closed on 28 August 2024 at 5:00pm.

What can I do if I can't enrol in the course in 2024 Autumn Term?

A number of classes will be offered in 2025 Spring Term and 2025 Summer Term for students' enrolment according to their own schedule. Nevertheless, the course enrolment will be on a first-come-first-served basis. As this is a mandatory course for year one face-to-face undergraduate students, you are strongly advised to complete the course at the earliest to avoid last minute rush.

What should I do if I encounter enrolment issues?

Please refer to FAQ on Course Enrolment and the Instruction Kit for accessing Course Enrolment functions, which address common questions from students about course enrolment. For enquiries, please contact UG Enrolment Team of Registry by email (regftae@hkmu.edu.hk) or telephone: 2768 6704.

Where can I find my enrolled class?

You can find the course you have enrolled by reviewing the “Academic Record” and “Class Schedule” on MyHKMU after the add/drop period.

Please make sure the records are accurate. Any discrepancies should be reported to the UG Enrolment Team of Registry by email (regftae@hkmu.edu.hk) or telephone: 2768 6704.

Can I be exempted from this course requirement if I have obtained the MHFA Course (Standard) certificate outside the University?

As it is a mandatory course requirement, no course exemption will be granted to students who have obtained the MHFA certificate outside the University.

Attendance and Absence

How can I take my course attendance?

For this course, student class attendance will be marked in paper form for record. Full attendance is required to complete the course, students will be considered absent from class if they are late for more than 15 minutes.

Can I only retake the specific session I absent?

Students who are absent from any session of the course will need to retake the whole course.

How can I retake the course?

Students will need to enrol the course themselves during the course enrolment period in the 2025 Spring Term or 2025 Summer Term. The Registry and SAO undertake no obligation to identify / enrol a substitute course for them.

Course Completion

Will this course be displayed on my Official Transcript?

The course completion record will be displayed on your “Academic Record” in MyHKMU and Metro FAITH Co-curricular Record (which will be updated annually (TBC)). However, please note that the course will not be displayed on your Official Transcript.

Adverse Weather Arrangements for Classes

Guidelines for Retention / Cancellation / Postponement of Classes under Typhoon Signal No. 8 or Above / Black Rainstorm Warning / “Extreme Conditions” Announcement

Remarks

All University's activities will normally be held as scheduled when Typhoon Signal No. 3 or below is in force or when Red / Amber Rainstorm Signal is in force.
When Pre-No. 8 Special Announcement is issued by Hong Kong Observatory, all University's activities / facilities / services will be terminated or closed as soon as possible.
“Extreme Conditions” refers to “Extreme Conditions” announcement issued by the Government under adverse weather conditions (such as after super typhoons).
If necessary, classes will be rescheduled and students will receive information about new arrangements from the Student Affairs Office within two weeks.

Mandatory Mental Health First Aid Course

Course Content

To develop basic understanding of common mental health illnesses: depression, anxiety disorder, substance use disorder and psychosis;

To identify symptoms of mental problem or mental health crisis;

To learn the principles and methods of mental health first aid; and

To assist persons in need to seek professional treatment, services and make use of appropriate community resources.

Target

All year one face-to-face undergraduate students in the 2024/25 academic year.

Requirement

Target students must complete the course within their year one study. Otherwise, their progression to the second year will be affected.

Mode of Teaching

Stipulated by MHAHK, the course is offered in either two whole-day (2 sessions, 6 hours each) or four half-day mode (4 sessions, 3 hours each), a total of 12 hours with lectures, group discussion and role-play delivered in a face-to-face classroom setting.

Course Schedule for 2024 Autumn Term

Roadmap

Note:

The above course schedule is for reference only and will be subject to change according to the actual teaching needs. Students should refer to the “Class Schedule” section on MyHKMU to review the finalized schedule for all courses in 2024 Autumn Term.

Students are not allowed to drop the sections commencing in Week 1 or 2 after enrolled. The enrolment of these sections for 2024 Autumn Term will be closed on 28 August 2024 at 5:00 pm.

Medium of Instruction

Cantonese or English

Quota

30 students per class

Course Completion

Students have to fulfil the following course requirements to complete the course.

Attend all classes as scheduled;

Pass the course MC quiz; and

Complete the “Pre-course questionnaire”, “Post-course questionnaire” and “Course evaluation”.

Course Certificate

Students who have completed all course requirements will obtain an internationally recognized course certificate within 6 weeks.

FAQ

Course Eligibility

This mandatory course targets to all year one face-to-face undergraduate students in the 2024/25 academic year. Hence, students who change their study major as a year one student are required to fulfil this course requirement.

Course Enrolment

The course is housed under the School of Nursing and Health Sciences (N&HS). The details are as follows.

The medium of instruction will be available in Cantonese and English, while the language of learning materials will be in Traditional Chinese and English respectively. Students can enrol in the course according to their own preference.

Arrangements of classes will not be the same for each school/programme based on their course allocation in each term.

Students are not allowed to drop the sections commencing in Week 1 or 2 after enrolled. The enrolment of these sections for 2024 Autumn Term will be closed on 28 August 2024 at 5:00pm.

Please refer to FAQ on Course Enrolment and the Instruction Kit for accessing Course Enrolment functions, which address common questions from students about course enrolment. For enquiries, please contact UG Enrolment Team of Registry by email (regftae@hkmu.edu.hk) or telephone: 2768 6704.

You can find the course you have enrolled by reviewing the “Academic Record” and “Class Schedule” on MyHKMU after the add/drop period.

Please make sure the records are accurate. Any discrepancies should be reported to the UG Enrolment Team of Registry by email (regftae@hkmu.edu.hk) or telephone: 2768 6704.

As it is a mandatory course requirement, no course exemption will be granted to students who have obtained the MHFA certificate outside the University.

Attendance and Absence

For this course, student class attendance will be marked in paper form for record. Full attendance is required to complete the course, students will be considered absent from class if they are late for more than 15 minutes.

Students who are absent from any session of the course will need to retake the whole course.

Students will need to enrol the course themselves during the course enrolment period in the 2025 Spring Term or 2025 Summer Term. The Registry and SAO undertake no obligation to identify / enrol a substitute course for them.

Course Completion

The course completion record will be displayed on your “Academic Record” in MyHKMU and Metro FAITH Co-curricular Record (which will be updated annually (TBC)). However, please note that the course will not be displayed on your Official Transcript.

Adverse Weather Arrangements for Classes

Remarks

All University's activities will normally be held as scheduled when Typhoon Signal No. 3 or below is in force or when Red / Amber Rainstorm Signal is in force.

When Pre-No. 8 Special Announcement is issued by Hong Kong Observatory, all University's activities / facilities / services will be terminated or closed as soon as possible.

“Extreme Conditions” refers to “Extreme Conditions” announcement issued by the Government under adverse weather conditions (such as after super typhoons).

If necessary, classes will be rescheduled and students will receive information about new arrangements from the Student Affairs Office within two weeks.

Course Enquiry

Tel: 2768 6630 (Ms. LAU) / 2768 6658 (Ms. TSANG)

Email: saoce@hkmu.edu.hk