You have heard of CPR, but have you heard of Mental Health First Aid? Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a course that helps you identify, understand and respond to individuals showing signs of mental distress and/or substance-use disorders. It was created by a nurse and a mental health literacy professor in Australia in 2000, and then adapted for the U.S. in 2007. Mental Health First Aid is not therapy nor counseling but a means to become more aware of the mental well-being of others and how to help when needed.
There are two course types available: the Adult Course and the Youth Course, and they are delivered in-person or virtually. Some courses are free, but many have a cost associated with them. As a Mental Health First Aider, feel free to contact me if you are interested in learning more, or visit the website below. I have also listed other links that may interest you:
- Mental Health First Aid – https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/
- Register for a course – https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/take-a-course/
- Read the research – https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/about/research/
- Mental Health Resources – https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/mental-health-resources/