Become a MHFA Instructor
Every action can create a ripple effect that makes waves bigger than yourself. Apply to become a Mental Health First Aid Instructor and help create a healthier, more caring community.
Start Your Ripple
Sometimes, it can be hard to know how to make the world a better place, or how one person can make a difference. But every wave starts with a ripple. Become a Mental Health First Aid Instructor, and you can teach your community how to help someone experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. Then watch your ripple grow.
Make Waves in Your Community
MHFA Instructors teach life-changing skills that help people facing mental health or substance use challenges. Like ripples in water, their impact spreads far and wide. Working alone or with an organization, they share a trusted program, connect with others and create a learning experience that lasts.
Connect With Your Community
MHFA Instructors connect people. They build knowledge and empathy to create caring communities that are free from stigma.
Teach Skills and Instill Hope
MHFA Instructors teach vital skills that help people spot the signs of mental health challenges and respond with confidence.
Be a Voice for Change
MHFA Instructors raise awareness of mental health and substance use challenges. They drive change through compassion and action.
Lead With Purpose
MHFA Instructors lead by example. They inspire others to care for their mental wellbeing and support those around them in meaningful ways.
Choose Your Courses
MHFA comes in a wide range of forms — just like the people you know. Choose the training that’s tailored to who you want to help.
Train Others to Help Adults
Teach adults how to help other adults in your community. We offer courses for Spanish speakers, higher education staff, first responders and more.
Más informaciónTrain Others to Help Youth
Teach adults how to help youth ages 12-18. We offer courses for Spanish speakers and youth from Tribal and Indigenous communities.
Más informaciónMHFA Instructors are…
- Community and religious leaders
- Teachers, coaches and school staff
- Nurses, emergency response and hospital staff
- Social workers and peer support staff
- Public service and safety professionals
- Military and veterans services professionals
- Everyday people looking to increase their community impact
How to Become a MHFA Instructor
Fill out our quick 5-minute application to find out if becoming an Instructor is right for you. Then join one of our dynamic 3-day trainings! They include pre-work done at your own pace, expert-led instruction and hands-on practice leading a class. You’ll gain the confidence to teach adult learners, master the MHFA curriculum and develop the skills to engage varied audiences.
Más informaciónHost a Private Instructor Course
Is your organization thinking about training 6 or more Instructors? If so, a private Instructor training may be more cost-effective.
Ongoing Support for Instructors
Becoming an Instructor is just the beginning. Our Client Success Team will make sure you have what you need to succeed, from your first course onward. There are webinars, tutorials and classroom videos, guides, marketing templates and more. Join a national community that’s ready to help you grow.
Más informaciónBuscar una formación
Para encontrar una formación o un instructor cerca de usted, introduzca su ubicación a continuación.
Eric Weaver
MHFA National Trainer
“MHFA for Public Safety allows officers and other public safety personnel the opportunity to learn much more than they would ever learn in an academy-type setting, especially since most officers
Capitán Joseph Coffey
Rhode Island
“If we can prevent today’s depressed person from becoming tomorrow’s barricaded person, then we’ve done our job on many, many levels.”
Catie Gilman
Mount Holyoke College
“As an athletic trainer, mental health is as much a part of my job as physical health. The opportunity to be a MHFA Instructor for my Athletics department as well
Judith LeDoux
Anna Maria College
“As someone who is certified in MHFA, I see firsthand how the concepts and training can be beneficial within college life, as well as in Athletics. For many college athletes,
Jennifer Ostrowski
PhD, LAT, ATC, Moravian University
“In this population, I have found that the knowledge gained as part of the MHFA program has helped decrease the stigma related to mental illness in Athletics, and the skills
Rev. Dr. Christian Frazier
Instructor de MHFA para jóvenes
“Mental health remains a topic many avoid, but Team: Changing Minds provides a platform that makes learning both engaging and impactful. My background in acting and stand-up comedy allows me
Chris James
Instructor de MHFA para jóvenes
“I was inspired to apply for the Team: Changing Minds grant for Youth MHFA because I wanted to be even more equipped to do this work we do daily. I
Cathy Muse
Director, Adquisiciones de Promesas Públicas, NACo EDGE
"Nuestra asociación con MHFA está dando a los condados herramientas para actuar, no sólo concienciación. Esta formación es necesaria para una mano de obra próspera."
Dow Constantine
Ejecutivo del condado de King, Washington
"Empezamos a ofrecer el MHFA a nuestros supervisores. La respuesta fue abrumadoramente positiva. Los empleados se sienten seguros a la hora de reconocer y responder a los retos."
Toni Holmes
Toni Holmes, Director de Gestión de Talentos, Condado de Rockdale, Georgia
"Lo introdujimos en todas nuestras formaciones: seguridad pública, supervisores, liderazgo. El MHFA proporcionó un nivel diferente de apoyo junto con [el Programa de Asistencia al Empleado]."
Alyssa Fruchtenich
Coordinadora de Salud Mental en la Escuela, UnityPoint Health
“It can be scary for an adult who suspects a child is thinking of hurting themselves. Where do you start the conversation? When a teacher says, ‘How can I be
Nikki Karber
Presidente, Speak Out Against Suicide
“Our small community has been greatly affected by suicide. While mental health is a topic that many wish to not discuss, we feel that Mental Health First Aid was essential
Capitán Joseph Coffey
Retirado, Academia de Policía Municipal de Rhode Island y Formador Nacional MHFA
“My Mental Health First Aid training helped me save a life, and regular incidents serve as reminders of how public safety officers fall back on their training in times of
Ruth Kaluski
Directora de Career Connection, Instituto de Recursos de Empleo de la Asociación de Salud Mental de Nueva Jersey
“People who completed the older adult training found it extremely valuable. That’s helped us build a case for the need to increase mental health literacy and reduce stigma in New
Pepe Juelle
Desarrollador de negocios, Olympic Agency, S.A.; Instructor de PASM
“Mi mayor inspiración para continuar ofreciendo estos adiestramientos y capacitando a personas comunes es saber que estoy ayudando, directa o indirectamente, a los pacientes de salud mental. No hay mayor
Tiffany Edouard
Universidad de Carolina del Norte en Chapel Hill
"El MHFA construyó unos cimientos que han ayudado mucho a la cultura del campus".
Michael Allora
Subjefe de Bomberos jubilado, Departamento de Bomberos de Clifton (N.J.)
“Since completing training, I’ve noticed that there is more conversation about mental health, and that is helping reduce the stigma associated with behavioral health issues. People at our fire department
Ava Sapolski
Estudiante, Amherst Steele High School
“I was surprised by how much I learned about taking care of my own mental health, being kind to those around me, supporting my friends through rough patches and how
Michaela Hjelm
Director del Programa de Bienestar, Trident Seafoods Corporation
“The trainings opened the door for employees to share their ideas on how we can further our mission as an organization to raise awareness and caring. As a result, we’ve
Brooke Castillo
Director, Aprendizaje y Desarrollo de Talentos, Xylem Inc.
“Mental Health First Aid at Work training has helped people leaders, human resources and environmental health safety and security colleagues find the courage to handle situations that arise. These situations
Alyssa Fruchtebicht
Coordinador de Salud Mental, UnityPoint Health - Black Hawk Grundy Mental Health Center
“As adults, we sometimes forget how hard it was being an adolescent. When we see a kid who is just miserable at school, we might think they choose to be
Tousha Paxton-Barnes
Veterano del ejército de EE.UU.
“So many people are out there wishing for something better, hoping that help will show up. That’s what Mental Health First Aid is — it is help to get people
Taryn Bird
Directora Ejecutiva de Impacto Social, Kate Spade New York
“Over the last five years, kate spade new york has partnered with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing to provide Mental Health First Aid training to our nonprofit community partners,
Teniente Virgil Meyer
Departamento Penitenciario de Pensilvania
“I wish that every corrections officer could receive Mental Health First Aid training. I believe that our corrections system would be better because of it – the inmates would benefit,
