Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid is an 8 hour in-person training that teaches lay people how to help others developing a mental illness or in a mental health crisis.
Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack — even if you have no clinical training — Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health related crisis.
In the Mental Health First Aid course you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, local mental health resources and where to turn for help.
There are two types of Mental Health First Aid courses — adult and youth.
Both adult and youth Mental Health First Aid courses are 8 hours long and feature:
- •Hands-on activities and practice
- •ALGEE, the 5-step action plan
- •An overview of local mental health resources, support groups, and other help
- •A resource manual packed with information on all topics covered in the course
Find out which course type is best for you.
For training dates and info
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an article by NPR on mental health disparities in public schools
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Adult
Mental Health First Aid
Adult Mental Health First Aid is appropriate for anyone 16 years and older who wants to learn how to help a person who may be experiencing a mental health related crisis or problem. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addictions. Course participants come from a variety of backgrounds and play various roles in a community, and instructors may specialize in providing the course to groups such as police officers or faith leaders.
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 (age 12-18) 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 (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.