Table 1 Survey Items

Demographics

(collected at baseline)

Gender, age, student status (domestic/international), enrolment status (full time/part time)

Previous experience with mental health

(collected at baseline and reported here)

To determine familiarity with course content and previous mental health skills and knowledge, participants were asked if they had previously completed MHFA training, other education or training in mental health, mental health units in their current course of study or a mental health related clinical placement during current course of study. Responses were dichotomised to ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Participants who had completed other training, units or relevant placements, were asked to provide details including the provider and the year completed.

Motivation for undertaking MHFA training

(collected at baseline and reported here)

Assessed using an open ended question was used to explore motivation for completing the MHFA course [46, 50, 63, 64].

Existing confidence to assist someone with a mental health problem

(collected at baseline and reported here)

Assessed by asking participants if they felt confident in helping someone with a mental health problem. A five point Likert scale was provided with responses ranging from ‘not at all’ to ‘extremely confident’ [46, 50].

Previous contact with someone with a mental health problem

(collected at baseline and reported here)

To determine exposure to individuals with mental health problems participants were asked if they had had contact with someone with a mental health problem during the last six months. Responses included ‘yes’, ‘no’ and ‘don’t know’.

Previous experience in providing help to someone with a mental health problem

(collected at baseline and reported here)

Two questions asked of those who answered yes to previous contact.

1. Open ended question which asked how many people with a mental health problem they had contact with during this period. Coded to a few (1–3), some (4–9) and many (10 or more).

2. The second question asked if they offered any help. Responses included ‘not at all’, ‘a little’, ‘some’ and ‘a lot’. These questions were followed with a qualitative question regarding what type of help was provided. These questions have been used in previous evaluations of MHFA training [46, 50]. Responses were coded against 10 broad categories with one point given for each response provided using the scoring described by Kelly and colleagues [9].

Mental health knowledge

(collected at all timepoints and reported previously)

Knowledge was assessed using 20 true or false statements adapted from previously validated MHFA research.

Recognition of depression was assessed using a specific vignette about “John” and an open ended question “what, if anything is wrong with John?” which has been used in previous research.

Confidence and Intentions

(collected at all timepoints and reported previously)

Confidence was assessed by asking participants to rate their confidence to help ‘John’. Responses included a five point Likert scale ranging from: don’t know to very confident. This measure has been used in previous MHFA research.

Mental health first aid intentions were assessed using an open-ended question “Imagine John is someone you have known for a long time and care about. You want to help him. What would you do? Responses were scored using a previously used system in other MHFA studies and based on the ALGEE action plan which is a key focus of MHFA.

Stigma

(collected at all timepoints and reported previously)

Stigmatising attitudes including social distance were measured. Stigmatising attitudes were assessed using a seven item scale adapted from the validated Depression Stigma Scale to measure personal and perceived stigma. Social distance was measured by a scale adapted from the validated Social Distance Scale. Both have been used in other MHFA studies.