Lithgow’s Vanguard Fitness gym will be hosting a mental health first aid (MHFA) course to help local residents better understand how they can assist those who may be developing mental health problems.

The two day course will run on Thursday and Friday, December 7-8, for a total of 12 hours.

Owner of Vanguard Fitness Phil Evans said the course was a proactive step to enable people to provide immediate help to those with mental health issues.

“Our town, we have a lot of instances of depression and anxiety and suicide, which is really tough,” Mr Evans said.

“It’s pretty close to all of us. We have members here that have been impacted by suicide on a close firsthand level.

“So we really want to try and do something that’s going to be proactive, educate people and help them out with what they can do to help their friends and workmates.”

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Mr Evans lost one of his best mates to suicide at the age of 20.

“The impact is just enormous and is still being felt to this day,” he said.

“He was a really good guy. You just wonder what he could have done in life if only we had some better tools to help him out.

“As friends, knowing what to say, how to help… there’s better things we can do to help people who are struggling mentally. That’s what we want to learn and share.”

The MHFA course will be delivered by Trent Chapman who is originally from Bathurst and currently resides near Byron Bay.

Mr Chapman is an accredited MHFA teacher and brings the extra insight of his own struggles with mental health.

“I myself live with bipolar and have also suffered trauma in my life,” Mr Chapman said.

He attended a MHFA three years ago in a bid to better manage his own mental health as well as to help those around him better understand his condition.

He was impressed by how the course removed the stigma of mental health conditions but more importantly how it taught participants to identify early signs and symptoms and how to offer early intervention.

To date Mr Chapman has delivered the course to over 350 people.

“Only a few months ago I was able to intervene and assist someone after knowing what signs and symptoms to look for and get professional help and stop a suicide,” he said.

“This person is now receiving professional help and on what will probably be a long road but never the less a road to recovery!

“If I didn't have the skills of the course it would have been a different outcome.”

The course costs $300. More details can be found by visiting the Mental Health First Aid - Training Course event on the Vanguard Fitness Facebook page.

To register contact Trent Chapman at trent.chapman@hotmail.com or 0402 277 901.

Lifeline 131 114, MensLine 1300 789 978, beyondblue 1300 224 636