Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) for Adult is designed to give members of the public key skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Gain easy to use tools and increase your confidence in providing help to others!
HOW MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID FOR ADULTS CAN HELP
Addresses common mental ​health concerns encountered by ​adults.
Reduces Stigma
Teaches strategies for family members, friends and peers to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health or substance use challenges and offer support.
Offers self-help strategies for staying mentally well.
LEARN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
Learn to recognize the signs of mental health problems and crises, and develop the skills to actively help people experiencing these problems: Get trained in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), an internationally recognized interactive program that has trained more than 100,000 people nationwide since its launch in 2009.
As an MHFA training program participant, you will receive a comprehensive introduction to risk factors and warning signs to a spectrum of mental health problems and crises, notably depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and psychosis. You will also learn and practice a five-step action plan for situations such as helping someone through a panic attack, engaging wit​h someone who may be suicidal, or assisting an individual who has overdosed, as well as connecting that person with appropriate professional, peer, social and self-help care.
Studies of MHFA show that the training program saves lives, improves the mental health of the individual administering care and the one receiving it, reduces the stigma surrounding mental illness and expands knowledge of mental problems and their treatments..
WHAT YOU LEARN IN A VIRTUAL MHFA COURSE
Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for men​tal health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.
Topics Covered
Depression and mood disorders
Anxiety disorders
Trauma
Psychosis
Substance Use disorders
Mental Health First Aid teaches about recovery and resiliency –
the belief that individuals experiencing these challenges can and do get better, and use their strengths to stay well.
MHFA Certification, which must be renewed every three years, teaches participants to:
​Identify the impact of mental health challenges on the well-being of adults in the U.S.
Explain that recovery from a mental health challenge is possible.
Recognize the potential risk factors and warning signs for a range of mental health problems, including: depression, anxiety/trauma, psychosis, and psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, and self-injury.
Use a 5-step action plan to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional help.
Interpret the prevalence of various mental health disorders in the U.S. and the need for reduced negative attitudes in their communities.
Apply knowledge of the appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help resources available to help someone with a mental health problem treat and manage the problem and achieve recovery.
Choose appropriate methods for self-care following the application of Mental Health First Aid in a crisis or non-crisis situation
The Mental Health First Aid Action Plan:
Assess for risk of suicide or harm
Listen non judgmentally
Give reassurance and Information
Encourage appropriate professional help
Encourage self-help and other support strategies
National Council for Mental Well-being operates Mental Health First Aid in the USA
This course is eligible for 7.5 contact hours of continuing education credits. Please seek approval prior to training.
​MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
Adult Course
The adult Mental Health First Aid course is appropriate for anyone age 18 and older who wants to learn how to help a person who may be experiencing a mental health related crisis or problem.
Course Format
You learn by getting involved with the material and relating what you learn to real-life applications. Discussion topics, exercises, and other activities keep you engaged in the course and give you an opportunity to practice helping skills.
Environment
One or two certified instructors lead each course and follow a national curriculum and teaching standards, while emphasizing hope for recovery. Classes usually consist of 30 people or less are offered in a respectful, comfortable environment.