what is Mental Health First Aid?

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based training that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges. Mental Health First Aiders are trained to be a nonjudgmental listening ear. Through reassurance, support and resources, Mental Health First Aiders talk with people experiencing mental health and substance use challenges and help shine a light on a path forward.

“It's helpful to see how a discussion can flow, how a person may still make mistakes or insert their own biases, but then to see how to effectively redirect yourself and the discussion.”

— anonymous feedback

“With ALGEE, I feel better about starting a conversation and encouraging folks to seek help.”

— anonymous feedback

MHFA is managed, operated and disseminated through the National Council of Mental Wellbeing. It was brought to the U.S. from Australia in 2008, and currently there are more than 2.6 million Americans trained as mental health first aiders.

Adult vs. Youth Curriculums

Adult MHFA is taught to adults to assist other adults.

  • You must be 18+ years old to attend the training

  • Delivery Methods:

    • Blended/In-Person - 7.5 hours

    • Blended Virtual - 7.5 hours

    • Full In-Person - 9 hours, or two 4-hour sessions without a lunch break

      • blended models require a two-hour pre-work to be completed in advance of the training

  • Covers the importance of early intervention, worsening situations, and crisis situations

  • Focused crisis sections on panic attacks, NSSI, suicide, substance use crisis (overdose), psychosis, and following a traumatic event

  • Does not train how to diagnose or treat a mental health or substance use challenge

  • Utilizes interactive scenarios, videos, discussions and brainstorming activities to build skills

  • Emphasis on a variety of crisis situations with action steps and real world scenario practice

Youth MHFA is taught to adults to assist adolescents.

  • You must be 18+ years old to attend the training

  • Delivery Methods:

    • Blended/In-Person - 6.5 hours

    • Blended Virtual - 6.5 hours

    • Full In-Person - 8 hours, or two 3.5-hour sessions without a lunch break

      • blended models require a two-hour pre-work to be completed in advance of the training

  • Covers the importance of early intervention, worsening situations, and crisis situations

  • Focused crisis sections on suicide, substance use crisis (overdose), psychosis, and following a traumatic event

  • Does not train how to diagnose or treat a mental health or substance use challenge

  • Utilizes interactive scenarios, videos, discussions and brainstorming activities to build skills

  • Emphasis on listening nonjudgmentally and youth-specific approaches

Community-Specific MHFA Curriculums

Fire & Emergency Medical Services Personnel

Higher Education

Military, Veterans & their Families

Rural Communities

Older Adults

Tribal Communities & Indigenous Peoples (Youth)

Corrections Professionals

Public Safety

What did our trainees find helpful?

  • “Discussing suicide; helps to reduce stigma and myths. All of the video scenarios were pretty great”

  • “[The instructor] was GREAT!!! Very funny but very real and passionate about the subject matter.”

  • “The most helpful part of the course was the building of confidence in addressing mental health concerns without having to diagnose any mental illness.”

  • “Working in groups and interacting with other members was very helpful to me. Doing this allowed me to experience the different thought processes and solutions.”

  • “Talking about suicide - it brought up a topic that most don't want to speak about or know how to speak about”

  • “Talking about these issues with colleagues and learning from them as well. The course leader was very effective and personable and did a great job.”

  • “I felt like the part of the course that dealt with suicide was the most helpful for me. I have had to talk to someone reaching out for help and she went thru with her attempt and died. I always wondered if I could've or should've done something different. I felt better after learning some new skills and approaches. And I feel a lot less guilty too.”

  • “[The instructor] was very good about encouraging and engaging participants, it was very natural.”