Effects of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid training programme for non-suicidal self-injury on stigmatising attitudes, confidence in ability to assist, and intended and actual assisting actions: an uncontrolled trial with precourse and postcourse measurement and 6-month follow-up

Abstract

ObjectivesNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a complex issue affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Australia. We evaluated the effects of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid (AMHFA) training course on assisting an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person engaging in NSSI, including the effects on stigmatising attitudes, confidence in ability to assist, and intended and actual assisting actions.DesignUncontrolled trial with precourse and postcourse measurement (n=49) and 6-month follow-up (n=17).SettingParticipants attended courses that were run in Queensland and Victorian communities and through one national organisation.ParticipantsParticipants were 49 adults who worked directly with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples.InterventionThe 5-hour ‘Talking About Non-Suicidal Self-Injury’ course was delivered by accredited AMHFA instructors and teaches people how to support an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who is engaging in NSSI.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe outcome measures were stigmatising attitudes, confidence in ability to assist, and intended and actual actions to assist a person engaging in NSSI.ResultsImprovements were observed in stigmatising attitudes, with significant changes from precourse in both the ‘weak-not-sick’ (postcourse p<0.0623; follow-up p=0.0058) and ‘dangerous/unpredictable’ (postcourse p<0.0001; follow-up p=0.0036) subscales. Participants’ confidence in ability to assist increased significantly both postcourse (p<0.0001) and at follow-up (p<0.0001). Despite a high level of endorsement for the nine recommended assisting actions at precourse, significant improvements (p<0.05) were observed in endorsement for six and four of the assisting actions postcourse and at follow-up, respectively. Course content was rated as being somewhat (3.4%), mostly (13.8%) or very (82.7%) culturally appropriate by participants who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.ConclusionsThe results of this uncontrolled trial were encouraging, suggesting that the Talking About Non-Suicidal Self-Injury course was able to improve participants’ attitudes, confidence and intended assisting actions.