Mental Health First Aid Training
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to appropriate care.
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) 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 addiction challenges 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.
The MHFA Certification is comprised of a 2-hour, self-paced online course, and 5.5-hour, in-person training. Participants must complete both components before earning their certification. Registrants will receive a link via email to join the virtual program.
Upcoming Sessions
- Check back soon!
Cost
- $23.95 per person (residents and City of Fishers employees)
- $53.98 per person (nonresidents)
This course requires a minimum of 5 people. The FHD reserves the right to cancel or reschedule this course.
Course Details
Mental Health First Aid teaches participants a five-step action plan, ALGEE, to support someone developing signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in an emotional crisis:
- Assess for risk of suicide or harm
- Listen non-judgmentally
- Give reassurance and information
- Encourage appropriate professional help
- Encourage self-help and other support strategies
Why Become Certified?
Like CPR, Mental Health First Aid prepares participants to interact with a person in crisis and connect the person with help. First Aiders do not take on the role of professionals — they do not diagnose or provide any counseling or therapy. Instead, the program offers concrete tools and answers key questions, like “what do I do?” and “where can someone find help?” Certified Mental Health First Aid instructors provide a list of community healthcare providers and national resources, support groups, and online tools for mental health and addiction treatment and support. All trainees receive a program manual to complement the course material.
Participants are taught to identify risk factors and warning signs of mental illnesses and how to connect individuals to the appropriate care. Certification requires two-hour, self-paced online pre-work that must be completed before attending a live virtual session
Those who are trained in mental health first aid have:
- greater confidence in providing help to others;
- greater likelihood of advising people to seek professional help;
- improved agreement with health professionals about treatments;
- decreased stigmatizing attitudes.
Stats on Mental Health
According to the United Health Foundation’s 2021 America’s Health Rankings, Indiana’s rank in the United States (rankings are from lowest to the highest prevalence):
- 36th for the prevalence of depression
- 40 for the prevalence of frequent mental distress
- 16th for the prevalence of non-medical drug use
- 23rd for the prevalence of excessive drinking
- 21 for the prevalence of alcohol use among youth
- 33 for the prevalence of illicit drug use among youth
- 33rd for the prevalence of drug death
- 40th for the prevalence of anxiety
- 36 for the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences