About Mental Health First
Training:
Mental Health
First Aid training is open to anyone looking to learn how to help
loved ones, colleagues, neighbors and others cope with mental
health problems. Mental Health First Aid is particularly useful
for:
- Medical staff (including doctors, nurses, home health aides,
social workers, and others);
- Mental health care providers;
- Nursing Home staff;
- Call center operators;
- Law enforcement;
- School personnel;
- Those with a history of mental illness in their family;
- And many more.
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 empirically backed public
education and prevention tool- the training improves the public's
knowledge of mental health problems and connects people
with care for their mental health problems.
Three quantitative and one qualitative study have shown
that the program:
- improves people's mental
health,
- increases understanding of mental
health issues and treatments,
- connects more people with
care,
- and reduces stigma.
Program Cost:
Mental Health First Aid training costs $265.00. This
includes:
- Two full days of training by nationally certified trainers
- Take home materials
- Refreshments throughout the training'
- Certificate of completion at conclusion
Register for upcoming Mental Health First Aid
training sessions.
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"The MHFA course is one of the most informative, relevant, well
presented, and enjoyable courses I have ever completed. This course
has given me a much better understanding of people who suffer with
mental illness. I was able to draw on the Instructor's knowledge;
knowledge that I am sure can only be of benefit to me in helping my
clients achieve positive outcomes in the future."
-Past Participant
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History:
Mental Health First Aid was originally created in Australia in 2001
under the auspices of the University of Melbourne. The National
Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare-a national trade group
with 1,300 member organizations serve six million Americans
nationwide-brought Mental Health First Aid to the US in
2008.
Today Mental Health First Aid is
available in such countries as:
-
United Kingdom
-
United States
-
China
-
Canada
-
Finland
-
Singapore
Training Process:
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, and
-
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 of the training, participants
will understand the impact mental illness has on their families,
their communities, and themselves.
This program has been approved by The
National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare-a
nationwide organization that ensures Mental Health First Aid
trainers are certified, and that programs are supported by
empirical evidence.
Register for upcoming Mental
Health First Aid training sessions.