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This course gives an introduction to a PFA, something I had zero prior knowledge of. One should treat this course purely as that, and introduction which is what I was chasing. Further learning and experience would be needed if you want to apply PFA completely yourself. That said it does give you snippets of useful actions/responses that can be applied in general life.

The presenter is very articulate and pleasant to listen to.

In regards to the presentation of the material a couple of comments.

1. The simulation videos are a good attempt to demonstrate how, and how not to, engage. They are simplistic / sanitized to a fair degree without considering a lot of other environmental factors (like pople showing real distress in background perhaps, a setting that isnt so clean and ordered, dealing with kids, seeing physical injuries etc) BUT to do so could have drawn attention away from the core basic message.

2. The main case study type video. The issue of it being old is not a problem, but it didnt involve actualy discussions with people immediately after the event, rather these were all some time after the event. These people have moved on (one way or another) from PFA already.

3. Speaking of Videos. Although lecturer introduces each lecture on video himeslef, the main lecture videos are just going through slides. This is less engaging

4. The content was good for a first timer.

A number of others reviews have given a more detailed critique of where the course should have gone. I recommend reading one By Fernando H C, April 2020 (Filter for 3 stars) which is a very insightful and useful review

This course is a good starting point for those without experience in mental health care but want to show up and be there for their communities. It is well designed to meet the course objectives. Reflective listening and assessment of needs are relatively easy to understand, but the course could include more case studies, and more complex case studies, to facilitate the learning of prioritisation (triage) and intervention, as these two aspects are harder to imagine or relate to, for people like me without field experience. The course is meant to be general and introductory, but more emphasis on how PFA changes when working with populations with different characteristics, would be more inclusive and beneficial to everyone, for example children and elderly, people with disabilities, people from non-western/ westernized cultures, groups that are already marginalized or traumatized to begin with. Even if no explicit guidance could be provided because the topic may be too complex for a beginners level course, at the very least, an emphasis just to raise awareness, and some further reading material, are necessary.