Mental Health First Aid

People who enroll in the Mental Health First Aid training learn a five-step action plan to help loved ones, colleagues, neighbors, and others cope with mental health problems. Similar to traditional First Aid and CPR, Mental Health First Aid is help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a crisis until professional treatment is obtained or the crisis resolves. Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based public education and prevention tool—it improves the public’s knowledge of mental health problems and connects people with care for their mental health.

Trainees go through a 12-hour training program that teaches them a five-step action plan to:

• Assess a situation
• Select and implement appropriate interventions
• Secure appropriate care for an individual experiencing a mental health problem.
• Trainees also learn risk factors and warning signs of mental illness and about available mental health treatments. Upon completion, participants leave with a better understanding of the impact mental illness has on a person, their family, and their community.

Appropriate for many populations including:

• Hospitals and Health Care Centers
• Faith Communities
• Schools
• Law Enforcement/Justice
• Direct-care Home Staff
• Families and Caring Citizens
• Mental Health Authority Employees
• Policymakers