Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), a skills-based training administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges in their peers, friends and colleagues. To help the National Association of Counties (NACo) realize its vision of creating healthy, safe and vibrant counties across
America, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and NACo are partnering to offerWHY MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID?
crucial MHFA trainings to county employees and the communities they serve. The National Council-NACo partnership will support elected officials and county staff, who are asking for help with their own mental health and wellbeing. And, by extension, create a framework for counties to destigmatize mental health and substance use issues as they provide community residents with more equitable access to quality
mental health and substance use treatment services.
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The group was very impressed with the trainers and felt the curriculum was extremely useful in helping the county workforce address and support the need of county employees who may be experiencing mental health and/or substance use needs. The training was comprehensive, skills-oriented and provided the essential tools and guidance to support our staff.”
— Michael Orth, Commissioner, Westchester County, NY, Department of Community Mental Health
WHAT MHFA COVERS
- Noticing signs and symptoms of substance use and mental health challenges.
- Navigating difficult conversations about mental health.
- Knowing that recovery is possible – and how to support it.
- Tackling mental health stigma in the workplace.
- Understanding principles of safety and privacy. Building resilience and strategies to alleviate burnout.
- Implementing a 5-step MHFA Action Plan.
- Reinforcing relevant Employee Resource Groups,employee benefits and HR initiatives
WHO SHOULD TAKE IT
- County employees at all levels, including elected officials and county staff across all departments and organizations.
- Human resources and benefits partners, senior leaders and front-line managers.
- First responders including law enforcement, corrections officers, fire and EMS services
- Hospital and nursing home staff
- School teachers, administrators and youth-serving staff
Sources
Coe, E., Cordina, J., Enomoto, K., Seshan, N. (2021, July 23). Overcoming stigma: three strategies toward better mental health in the workplace. McKinsey Quarterly. //www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/overcoming-stigma-three-strategies-toward-better-mental-health-in-the-workplace
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (n.d.). Mental illness. //www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
National Association of Counties. (n.d.) Behavioral health matters to counties. //www.naco.org/sites/default/files/documents/NACo%20Behavioral%20Health%20Priorities.pdf
LAW ENFORCEMENT: If you took the One Mind Pledge, click here to schedule a training for your agency.
Please note: Even though you can now take virtual MHFA courses from anywhere in the United States, funding requirements may prevent an Instructor from accepting some applications.
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. To learn more, download the Mental Health First Aid for Youth one-pager.
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Why Mental Health Matters for Youth
1 in 5
One in five youth will experience a mental health challenge at some point during their life.
17.1 m
17.1 million youth under the age of 18 have or have had a psychiatric disorder – more than the number of children with cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined.
7.4%
7.4% of children in the United States have a mental health visit in a given year.
How Youth Mental Health First Aid Can Help
Informs adults about common mental health concerns among youth.
Reduces stigma.
Teaches adults how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use problems in youth.
Provides adults with skills to use a 5-step action plan to help a youth who may be facing a mental health problem or crisis, such as suicide.
To read more about how Mental Health First Aid is helping critical populations,
check out our case studies , or read our blog and filter by population type.
What Student Athletes (and Their Coaches) Need to Know About Mental Health
In my sophomore year of high school, I took the teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) course as part of my gym class, and my number one takeaway is that mental health is just as important as physical health. This is especially true for student athletes like me, who often sacrifice their mental wellbeing for a sport. tMHFA covers a broad range of mental health […]...
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