Youth, Teen & Adult Mental Health First Aid Certification
What is Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)?
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based training created by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing designed to provide participants with the skills to identify, de-stigmatize, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorder, enabling those trained to offer immediate, concrete support.
Similar to traditional First Aid and CPR, MHFA is help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a crisis until professional treatment is obtained or the crisis resolves.
MHFA is an evidence-based public education and prevention tool – it improves the public’s knowledge of mental health and substance use problems and connects people with care for their mental health or substance use problems.
Why become a First Aider?
First aiders care about the mental health of their family, friends, coworkers, and community members.
Gain Empathy
Support Others
Be a Role Model
Prevent Crises
Who can be First Aider?
Anyone who has successfully completed a MHFA training becomes a First Aider.
Family & Friends
Educators & Public Safety Workers
General Public
Anyone!
Cost: Mental Health First Aid is valued by the National Council for Mental Wellness at $170/trainee. In order to make the training more accessible the MHATC rate for Adult MHFA training and materials is $109.
Youth and Teen MHFA trainings are currently offered at no cost.
Mental Health First Aid Trainings
The Mental Health Association offers Adult, Youth, and Teen Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to build skills for recognizing and responding to mental health and substance use challenges.
Adult Mental Health First Aid teaches adults how to recognize and respond to mental health or substance use challenges and crises in other adults.
Youth Mental Health First Aid prepares adults who work with or care for young people to recognize concerns and provide appropriate support.
Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) teaches teens how to recognize mental health and substance use challenges in their peers, offer support, and connect a friend with a trusted adult when needed.
Upcoming Trainings
Adult MHFA October 23rd 9AM - 5PM
Location: 511 West Seneca St., Ithaca
Facilitator: Joe Gibson
Cost: $109.00 this session is offered free of charge!
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, 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.
Teen Mental Health First Aid
Teen Mental Health First Aid (Teen MHFA) teaches teens in grades 9–12, or ages 14–18, how to recognize, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in their friends and peers. Because young people often turn to friends when they are struggling, Teen MHFA gives teens practical tools to start supportive conversations, recognize warning signs, and connect a friend with a trusted adult when additional help is needed.
The training covers common mental health and substance use challenges, as well as mental health crises, bullying, and the impact of social media. Teen MHFA does not teach teens to diagnose or take on the role of a counselor. Instead, it helps them understand how to be a supportive friend, know when a situation requires adult help, and feel more confident taking action when they are concerned about a peer.
Mental Health First Aid FAQs
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Once you have signed up for a course, your instructor will reach out to you with a link to connect and instructions on how to access everything. You will need to reset your password upon first logging in.
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The course progress is for the entire course, including prework, instruction day, and post work. If your prework is done and you see 69% you are fully ready for your in-person training!Description text goes here
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No, unfortunately if you are unable to attend we are not allowed to certify you as a Mental Health First Aider.
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MHFA should not be considered a replacement for professional help. MHFA is designed to support an individual in need of help until appropriate professional help arrives. Mental Health First Aiders learn the 5-step MHFA Action Plan known as ALGEE, which includes assessing risk, respectfully listening to and supporting the individual in crisis, and identifying appropriate professional help, which may include licensed counselors, primary care physicians, social workers or psychiatrists.
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Item descriptionHFA does not force people to self-disclose mental health or substance use challenges. Instead, MHFA can help lessen a person’s fear and hesitation about starting conversations with others about mental health and substance use. A typical course shows individuals how to recognize the signs of a problem and gives them the tools and language to help.
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Item descriptionYes, there is strong evidence of outcomes. Mental Health First Aid USA is listed in the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices.
Visit the Mental Health First Aid USA website for more information.