Table 1 Mental health first aid knowledge

1) Half of all people who experience a mental illness have their first episode by age 18

2) Depressive disorders are the most prevalent mental illness in the Australian population

3) If a person who is depressed does not want to seek professional help, it is important to force them to if you can

4) Exercise can help relieve depression

5) Recovery from anxiety disorders requires facing situations which are anxiety provoking

6) Antidepressant medications can be an effective treatment for most anxiety disorders

7) When interacting with a person with psychosis, it is best not to offer them choices of how you can help them because it could add to their confusion

8) A person with a psychotic illness is less likely to relapse if they have a good relationship with their family

9) A good way to help a person with a drug or alcohol problem is to let them know that you strongly disapprove of their substance use

10) People with mental illnesses are much more likely to be smokers

11) It is not a good idea to ask someone if they are feeling suicidal in case you put the idea in their head

12) It is best to get someone having a panic attack to breathe into a paper bag

13) If someone has a traumatic experience, it is best to make them talk about it as soon as possible

14) It is best not to try to reason with a person having delusions

15) If a person is intoxicated with alcohol, it is not possible to make them sober up more quickly by giving them strong coffee, a cold shower or taking them for a walk

16) If a person becomes unconscious after taking drugs, it is best to lie them on their side rather than on their back