Mental Health First Aid Trainer

Find A Course Or Instructor

Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course that teaches participants to identify, understand and respond to mental health and substance use challenges. Find a Mental Health First Aid course or Instructor near you using the search tool below.

LAW ENFORCEMENT:

Please note: Even though you can now take virtual MHFA courses from anywhere in the United States, funding requirements may prevent an Instructor from accepting some applications.

Mental Health First Aid USA is managed,operated, and disseminated by the:

How Do I Host An Onsite Training

Once youve decided to host an onsite training, you can use this checklist to walk you through the planning process.

More questions? View our FAQ for more information or complete the form at the top of the page more information.

• Mental Health First Aid training has taught the officer to ask his charges, What happened? instead of, Whats wrong with you?Officer Orlando Singleton
• So many people are out there wishing for something better, hoping that help will show up. Thats what Mental Health First Aid is it is help to get people connected to care and ultimately to get them to a better place.Tousha Paxton-Barnes, U.S. Army Veteran
• I wish that every corrections officer could receive Mental Health First Aid training. I believe that our corrections system would be better because of it the inmates would benefit, the officers would benefit and ultimately our communities would benefit.Lt. Virgil Meyer, Lieutenant, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
• As adults, we sometimes forget how hard it was being an adolescent. When we see a kid who is just miserable at school, we might think they choose to be that way or that its just part of adolescence. But in fact, they might be in a mental health crisis, one they certainly did not choose and do not want. When a teacher says how can I be helpful, that is a powerful question. Alyssa Fruchtenicht, School-Based Mental Health Counselor

Member Organization Training Costs

Is your organization a member of National Council? As part of your membership we offer discounted pricing.

* If candidate is located in CT, HI, NM, SD or WV, state sales tax will apply.

*Please note: All state sales tax will be applied at checkout. If you are tax exempt, please submit your FEID number and government issued documentation for processing.

**Existing Instructor course attendees must all be certified in the same curriculum type and seeking dual certification in the other .

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Promoting Health & Wellbeing Of Nh Residents

Mental Health First Aid USA is an 8-hour training to teach participants how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it helps trainees identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.

How To Become Certified As An Adult Or Youth Instructor

Instructor certification results from a 3-day training that presents the Mental Health First Aid course and provides in-depth instruction on facilitating the curriculum. The training includes self-paced pre-work, a written exam and a presentation that evaluates each candidates ability to present the Mental Health First Aid course to a variety of audiences. Become certified to teach the Adult or Youth curriculum, or both.

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Instructors And Training Opportunities

The Southwestern Pennsylvania MHFA Collaborative includes adult and youth certified MHFA instructors, as well as instructors with module certifications in higher education, older adults, veterans, and public safety. If you are a MHFA instructor seeking a co-instructor or opportunities to train, or if you are a representative of a group or organization seeking MHFA instructors to provide a training, please contact Emily Insalaco, Administrative Training Coordinator at Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc. at 412-325-1100 or at einsalaco@ahci.org.

Be Part Of The Solution

Learn how to identify, understand, and respond to someone who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge.

Mental Health First Aid teaches you early intervention skills to help those in need. Learn strategies to spot and support those in a mental health crisis.

Josselyn envisions a world in which Mental Health First Aid is as common as CPR. You can help us achieve this vision by registering for a MHFA training today.

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Youth Mental Health First Aid

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders , and eating disorders. To learn more, .

Applying To Teen Mental Health First Aid: Information And Resources

teen Mental Health First Aid is a training program for teens brought to the United States by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing in partnership with Born This Way Foundation. It teaches teens in grades 10-12, or ages 15-18, how to identify, understand and respond to signs of a mental health or substance use challenge in their friends and peers. The training gives teens the skills to have supportive conversations with their friends and teaches them how to get help from a responsible and trusted adult. Learn more about how tMHFA can benefit young people in your community.

There are three ways to teach and learn tMHFA.

• In-person Lessons are conducted in person in six 45-minute sessions or three 90-minute sessions.
• Blended Teens complete a self-paced online lesson, then participate in six live, Instructor-led sessions. These Instructor-led sessions can be:
• Video conferences.
• In-person classes.

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Mental Health First Aid

One in five Americans struggle with a mental illness.

Yet, more than two-thirds go without treatment. Just as physical health First Aid and CPR training help assist a person experiencing a physical health crisis, Mental Health First Aid training helps a layperson assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis or challenge.

What Is Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid training introduces participants to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use concerns, builds understanding of their impact, and gives an overview of common treatments and resources.

Three MHFA courses are available:

Public school employees and employees of public and private higher education institutions can receive MHFA training for free through their Local Mental Health Authority or Local Behavioral Health Authority .

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What Is A Mental Health First Aider

• A Mental Health First Aider, also called a First Aider, is a person who has successfully completed a Mental Health First Aid training.
• First Aiders have empathy for people living with mental illness and substance use problems.
• Their increased mental health literacy enables them to identify risk factors and warning signs for mental health and substance use challenges, confidence to provide strategies to help someone in crisis and non-crisis situations, and knowledge of where to turn for help.

About Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives participants the skills needed to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. MHFA takes the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems by improving understanding and providing an action plan that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental illness or substance use disorder. Mental Health First Aiders are individuals who want to make their community healthier, happier and safer for all. For more information, visit: .

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Mhfa Connect Frequently Asked Questions

teen Mental Health First Aid on MHFA Connect

Florida School District Instructors and Coordinators

Transitioning to MHFA Connect

Instructor and Coordinators Roles and Responsibilities

MHFA Connect Processes

First Aiders and Learners

How will First Aiders certified on Cornerstone be able to access their manuals and certificates?

Starting November 1, First Aiders who completed their training in Cornerstone can log into MHFA Connect to access their certificates and course materials. They will need to use the same email address they used to login to Cornerstone and click Forgot password? to reset their password.

How will learners receive information about the course?

Learners will get automatic emails from MHFA Connect. You can also email your learners to provide additional support.

Storefront, Purchases and Fees

What Is Mental Health First Aid And What Does It Teach

• MHFA is skills-based training that teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use challenge.
• Similar to physical First Aid and CPR, MHFA helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis until professional assistance is obtained or the crisis is resolved.
• Mental Health First Aiders learn a 5-step Action Plan to recognize warning signs of a mental health or substance use challenge, provide help in crisis and non-crisis situations and understand where to turn for additional assistance.

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Mental Health First Aid Participant Experiences

At the end of the first teen Mental Health First Aid session hosted by Hill Country, a student approached one of the teen instructors and told her she might not be back for the second session. She said her mother was concerned her grades would slip because she was missing a core subject to attend the MHFA sessions, and her mother wanted her to return to class.

At the next session, the student told the instructor that over the weekend, her cousin reached out to her because she was having thoughts of suicide. She told her mother, and they talked with the cousins family and got her the support and help she needed. The student said the experience caused her mother to have a change of heart about the MHFA training, and she was allowed to return for the duration of the sessions.

– teen MHFA instructor

We had a student who was hesitant to take the training on Day One. The student was verbally offensive about us being there. By Day Three, the student felt comfortable coming to us and discussing her problems. We helped her connect with her counselor and to resources to help her immediately. The student later commented, I think its incredible that we can normalize talking about mental health. I struggle with it personally and always feel like my friends dont understand me and think I overreact.

– tMHFA Instructor

The presenters took turns, kind of tag teaming, and supported each other when necessary.

– Prairie Lea ISD Attendee

Become A Mental Health First Aid Instructor

Did you know you have the ability to save someones life? Yes YOU and it wont cost you anything except your time! Instructors help to spread Mental Health First Aid for Youth and Adults across the country. Instructors are individuals certified to teach the 8-hour course. Most instructors teach the course in their communities.

What Instructors Do: Instructors are on the frontlines of the program and help to train people in their communities in Mental Health First Aid. Certified instructors are required to teach the course at least three times per year. Instructors teach from a national curriculum, tailor discussions to their participants, and compile a list of local resources for help.

Reasons to become a Mental Health First Aid Instructor

• Connect – Bring your community, schools and workplace together
• Advocate – Reduce negative attitudes about mental illnesses
• Educate – Build mental health literacy
• Lead – Show others how they can help

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Become A Mental Health First Aider

Mental Health First Aid is a public education program that introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact and overviews appropriate supports. This 8-hour course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to offer initial help in a mental health crisis and connect people to the appropriate professional, peer, social and self-help care. The program also teaches common risk factors and warning signs of specific illnesses like anxiety, depression, substance use, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and schizophrenia. Mental Health First Aid is included on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices .

Mental Health First Aid teaches participants a five-step action plan, ALGEE, to support someone developing signs and symptoms of a mental illness or experiencing an emotional crisis:

• Assess risk of suicide or harm
• Listen non-judgmental
• Encourage the person to get appropriate professional help
• Encourage selfhelp and other support strategies from peers, family members, and friends.

4 Reasons to Become a Mental Health First Aider

• Be prepared: When a mental health crisis happens, know what to do
• You can help: People with mental illnesses often suffer alone
• Mental illnesses are common: 1 in 5 adults in any given year
• You care: Be there for a friend, family member, or colleague

Ways To Celebrate World Mental Health Day

Happy World Mental Health Day! Each year, Mental Health First Aid joins the World Health Organization to raise awareness about mental health around the world and support those experiencing mental health and substance use challenges. In honor of the observance, we are sharing 10 achievable ways you can take action to protect and promote mental wellbeing today and every day. Share Your Mental Wellbeing …

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What Are The Responsibilities Of The Host Site

• The organization hosting the training is responsible for administration of the event including:
• Selecting and providing the training location
• Providing classroom materials including flip charts, projectors, audio-visual components and Internet
• Recruiting and managing course participants
• If desired, providing catering during the week

*important Reminders For Instructors

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Bringing Essential Mental Health Training To Maryland’s Communities

Mental Health First Aid® Maryland is a public education national certification course designed to teach individuals, professionals, businesses, and community members the skills necessary to respond with care and genuine support to an individual experiencing a mental health or substance use concern or crisis. Mental health problems are common and, with the right help, wellness and recovery are possible. Since its inception, over 40,000 Mental Health First Aiders have been trainedcreating more caring, safe, and supportive communities throughout Maryland.

If you are a non-Maryland resident seeking training, please go here.

Whats New About Mhfa Connect

We kept what was working and fixed what wasnt. Here are a few things that have changed:

• One site does it all. You no longer need to schedule a class in one platform just to move to another platform to manage and teach your class. MHFA Connect is your one-stop shop for all National Trainer, Instructor and Coordinator needs. Youll schedule classes, manage rosters, and access resources all from one location!
• No more Training Units. Instructors no longer need to use Training Units to purchase seats. Rather, Instructors will mark learners as attended in MHFA Connect. When learners are marked in attendance, MHFA USA will invoice you for those seats once your course is complete.
• To Zoom or not to Zoom. Virtual Instructors are no longer required to use Zoom for Instructor-led trainings. They can choose from a variety of options.
• Put the connect in MHFA Connect. Use the new MHFA Connect forums to ask your fellow National Trainers, Instructors and Coordinators questions and share advice.
• Find what youre looking for. Search Instructor and Coordinator resources by topic to quickly and easily access the tools you need to teach and manage your courses.

MHFA Connect will also improve the First Aider experience:

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