What Is Mental Health First Aid?

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a groundbreaking public education program that  helps the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. Mental Health First Aid USA is managed, operated, and disseminated by three national authorities — the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health.

Mental Health First Aid is offered in the form of an interactive 12-hour course that presents an overview of mental illness and substance use disorders in the U.S. and introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common treatments. Those who take the 12-hour course to certify as Mental Health First Aiders learn a 5-step action plan encompassing the skills, resources and knowledge to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help care.

Mental Health First Aid has been featured in national media on NPR Morning Edition, NPR Talk of the Nation, and ABC News Now.

How can you get involved?

The 12-hour Mental Health First Aid USA course has benefited a variety of audiences and key professions, including:

• Professionals in direct service positions such as social workers, nurses, and social service coordinators
• Employers and business leaders
• Human resource professionals
• Faith communities
• Educators, counselors and administrators
• Law enforcement, safety, security and corrections professionals
• Nursing home and senior care community employees
• College/university resident assistants
• Volunteers and foster families
• Families and friends of individuals experiencing a mental health illness or mental health crisis.
• General public

See how you can get involved — find a 12-hour Mental Health First Aid course near you.

President calls for Mental Health First Aid training

 http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/cs/