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Mental Health First Aid

We provide Mental Health First Aid training for Adults, Youth, and Public Safety curriculum. Mental Health First Aid training is a skills-based training course that teaches participants to identify, understand and respond to mental health and substance use challenges.

This evidence-based, early-intervention course, administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, is available virtually and in-person and uses community-specific scenarios, activities and videos to teach the skills needed to recognize and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges as well as how to provide initial support until they are connected with appropriate professional help.

  • Mental Health First Aid for Adults teaches people how to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges in adults ages 18 and older, how to offer and provide initial help, and how to guide a person toward appropriate care if necessary. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addictions.
  • 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.
  • Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety provides law officers and staff with more response options to help them de-escalate incidents and better understand mental illnesses so they can respond to mental health-related situations appropriately without compromising safety.
  • Mental Health First Aid for Fire/EMS is designed to teach firefighters and emergency medical response personnel with better understanding of how to respond to mental health related situations without compromising their own safety. Firefighters and EMS personnel are constantly exposed to traumatic events and life-threatening situations that can take a toll on mental health. Strengthen your community and get your firefighters and EMS personnel certified in Mental Health First Aid for Fire/EMS, a trusted evidence-based and early intervention training program.
  • Mental Health First Aid for Corrections Professionals equips staff with the knowledge and skills to identify, understand and respond to mental health and substance use challenges in their peers. By providing the necessary support and resources, correctional facilities can help staff members cope with the challenges they face, reduce burnout and promote a positive work environment that ultimately benefits both staff and the individuals they serve.
  • Mental Health First Aid for Military, Veterans, and their Families is an evidence-based and early intervention training program developed for adults to learn how to assist and support members of their community who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. This training specifically addresses the relevance of mental health to military culture, information on risk factors such as mental and physical trauma faced by many service members and their families, how to break down stigma and how to reach out to those who suffer in silence and are reluctant to seek help.

If you want to schedule a training for your organization, please email Xavier Whitford at [email protected]

We are grateful for funding through WCCMHB for Mental Health First Aid training for Winnebago County residents and organizations.