Mental Health First Aid
Identify. Understand. Respond.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a skills-based training course that teaches participants about mental health and substance-use issues.
MHFA is an 8-hour, certification training that teaches how to:
Recognize risk factors/warning signs of mental health challenges
Understand the importance of early intervention
Get skills and tools to connect with mental health professionals and offer support strategies.
All participants receive a 3-year certification from training date.
MHFA is a program of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. It was brought to the United States in 2008 with the aim to make it as common as physical First Aid and CPR. Updated curricula for Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid were released in 2020. MHFA courses are available in online and in person.
Upcoming Courses
Currently there are no upcoming trainings/courses.
Check back often for updates.
Trainings Offered
Adult Mental Health First Aid: teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. This course is designed for the anyone.
Youth Mental Health First Aid: teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 12-18. This course is designed for parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring adults.
Teen Mental Health First Aid: teaches teens in grades 10-12, or ages 15-18, how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in their friends and peers. This course is designed for high school youth.
Mental Health First Aid for target populations
Higher Education: This training — which focuses on the unique experiences and needs of college students — gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.
Public Safety: This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care. It focuses on the unique experiences and needs of public safety personnel and is a valuable resource that can make a difference in their lives, their coworkers’ and families’ lives, and the communities they serve.
EMS/Fire: This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care. It focuses on the unique experiences and needs of firefighters and EMS personnel and is a valuable resource that can make a difference in their lives, their coworkers’ and families’ lives, and the communities they serve.
Veterans: This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to appropriate care.
Three Ways to Learn:
In Person Trainings: Learners receive their training during a 8-hour, Instructor-led, in-person session
Virtual or Hybrid Trainings: 2 hour self paced online course, followed by a 6 hour live instructor led course in Zoom or in person (online course must to be completed prior to the live course)
Alliance for Prevention and Wellness has been awarded the Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) grant through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).