¿Por qué formarse con el MHFA?
Be ready to help a friend or loved one through tough times with Mental Health First Aid training.
Marcar la diferencia
La formación en Primeros Auxilios en Salud Mental le proporciona las habilidades necesarias para actuar. Podrá detectar las señales de que alguien puede estar sufriendo y utilizar estrategias de eficacia probada para ayudarle. Tus acciones como Auxiliar de Primeros Auxilios en Salud Mental contribuyen a crear una comunidad más sana y solidaria.
The Numbers Tell the Story
To make a difference, it helps to know what you’re up against. Mental health and substance use challenges can affect all of us, whether we experience them directly or are supporting a loved one through a difficult time. That’s why it’s important to get trained in MHFA, so you can help when you’re needed most.
4.5M
People Trained
2 in 5
U.S. adults say they don’t know how to respond to a loved one’s mental health crisis.
of Americans don’t know when a mental health situation is serious enough to call 988.
Americans died by suicide per day in 2022, on average
How MHFA Can Help
You may be thinking, why should I get a Mental Health First Aid certificate? How will it help me help others? There are so many benefits to becoming a First Aider or Instructor. You’ll be prepared to help in a crisis, support your community and be part of a nationwide movement to build mental wellbeing.
Why Take MHFA?
Be prepared to help
Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to apply the MHFA Action Plan (ALGEE) to help someone in a variety of situations, from a panic attack to an overdose.
Make recovery a reality
People facing mental health and substance use challenges can and do get well, and they can use their own inner strength to stay well.
Support your community
You can make a difference in your community by teaching your family, friends and neighbors how to help others in need.
Why Teach MFHA?
Find the right words
Our training takes the fear out of talking about mental health by showing you how to safely identify signs of a mental health or substance use challenge and offer help.
Build your own resiliency
MHFA training offers self-help tools that you can share with others or use to support your own mental health.
Build a support system
MHFA’s goal is to train every 1 in 15 people to address mental health and substance use challenges within their circles. You can help ensure that everyone has someone to turn to.
Join a nationwide movement
As mental health awareness grows, so does the need for trained Instructors to teach MHFA. By becoming an Instructor, you can join a field that’s changing lives for the better.
Become a Certified Instructor
Anyone can become a MHFA Instructor. Do you have work or personal experience with mental health or substance use challenges? Have you trained adult learners in the past? Do you believe your community deserves a strong support system? These are the qualities that make the best Instructors, the ones who change lives. Your actions as a Mental Health First Aider ripple out to help create a healthier, more supportive community.
Start Teaching
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,
Ready to find your course?
If you’re curious about which MHFA course is right for you, check out our full list of offerings. We’re here to answer your questions and support you on your journey through MHFA training and beyond.
