Mental Health First Aid
Why Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges. Similar to physical First Aid and CPR, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis until professional assistance is obtained, or the crisis is resolved.
Three Learning Options
Virtual
First Aiders will complete a 2-hour, self-paced online class, and then participate in a 4-hour, instructor-led video conference.
Blended Learning
After completing a 2-hour, self-paced online course, First Aiders will participate in a 4.5 to 5.5 -hour, instructor-led training either as a video conference or in-person class.
In-person
First Aiders will receive their training as an 8-hour instructor-led in-person course.
Who Should Take It
- Employers
- Police Officers
- Hospital Staff
- First Responders
- Faith Leaders
- Community Members
- Caring Individuals
What It Covers
- Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges.
- Common signs and symptoms of substance use
- How to interact with a an adult in crisis
- How to connect the person with help
- Expanded content on trauma, substance use and self-care.
Why Youth Mental Health First Aid?
Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use among children and adolescents ages 12-18. This training gives adults who frequently interact with youth the skills they need to reach out and provide initial support to those children and adolescents who may be developing a mental health or substance use challenge and help connect them to the appropriate care.
Three Learning Options
Virtual
First Aiders will complete a 2-hour, self-paced online class, and then participate in a 4-hour, Instructor-led videoconference.
Blended Learning
After completing a 2-hour, self-paced online class, First Aiders will participate in a 4.5 to 5.5 -hour, in- person, instructor-led class.
In-person
First Aiders will receive their training as an 6.5-hour Instructor-led in-person course.
Who Should Take It
- Teachers
- School staff
- Coaches
- Camp counselors
- Youth group leaders
- Parents
- Adults who work with youth
What It Covers
- Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges in this age group, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD)
- Common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges
- How to interact with a child or adolescent in crisis
- How to connect the youth with help
- Expanded content on trauma, substance use, self-care and the impact of social media and bullying
Why Teen Mental Health First Aid?
Teen Mental Health First Aid teaches high school students how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders among their friends and peers. The training gives students the skills to have supportive conversations with their friends and get a responsible and trusted adult to take over as necessary. It is designed to be delivered in youth-serving community sites in three interactive classroom sessions of 90 minutes each or six sessions of 45 minutes each.
Schools and organizations offering the training are required to train at least 10 percent of adult staff in Youth Mental Health First Aid and to train the entire grade level. A critical step in the teen Mental Health First Aid action plan is connecting with a trusted adult. Youth Mental Health First Aid trains adults to be prepared to help young people facing a crisis.
Who Should Take It
- Teens ages 14 – 18
What It Covers
- How to open the conversation about mental health and substance use challenges.
- Common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.
- Determine what they can and can’t do to support a friend during and after a mental health or substance use crisis.
- How to seek the help of a parent, guardian or trusted adult.
This course will teach you how to apply the ALGEE action plan:
- Approach and assess for risk of suicide or harm.
- Listen nonjudgmentally
- Give reassurance and information.
- Encourage appropriate professional help.
- Encourage self-help and other support strategies.
Nearly
1 in 5
U.S adults lives with a Mental Illness.
– National Institute of Mental Health via the National Survey on Drug Use and Mental Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Teens and young adults lives with a mental health condition.
– National Alliance for Mental Illness
From 1999 to 2016
630,000 people died from drug overdose.
– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
123
People die by suicide each day.
– American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
64.1%
Of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment.
– Mental Health America
5.13%
Of youth report having a substance use or alcohol problem.
– Mental Health America
