Mental Health First Aid Logo
Mental Health First Aid Logo

In 2022, nearly 49,476 people in the U.S. died by suicide — an average of one person every 11 minutes — according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). … Read more

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)’s fast growth — building on the over 4.5 million people trained across the U.S. — wouldn’t be possible without its dedicated Instructors, like Johnny Smith. … Read more

Having taught over 30 MHFA, MHFA instructor Sarah Haupt recently reflected on her special connection with the older adult community.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and this year, we invite you to take four ways forward for mental health.

Mental Health First Aid’s (MHFA) main goal is to teach individuals how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.

Media Contact Irene Tung IreneT@TheNationalCouncil.org 771-215-5853 Washington, D.C. (April 15, 2024) – In a ceremony held at the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Summit in St. Louis on April 14, … Read more

Everyday, our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) community powers our mission of ensuring that mental wellbeing is a reality for everyone. MHFA Coordinators, who help Instructors run their courses seamlessly, … Read more

The 2024 MHFA Summit and NatCon24 will connect you with countless people from across the country, including experts in our field and sought-after speakers who will leave you feeling rejuvenated and truly inspired.

As an Adult/Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor, you can empower your community to be the difference for those experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. Being an Instructor is immensely rewarding.

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing today announced a new training program to help employers reduce the negative impact of workplace fatigue and stress among employees.

For Seva Reilly, becoming a Mental Health First Aider has been a transformative tool, enabling her to support her colleagues and community.

It’s essential to create a thriving workforce with engaged employees. That’s where Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) at Work courses come in.

January is Mental Wellness Month – the perfect time to recharge and prioritize your mental health, while encouraging others to do the same. With studies showing that almost half of … Read more

For some, the start of the year is a prime opportunity to wipe the slate clean and set goals. For others, the thought of making New Year’s resolutions triggers a … Read more

As the ball drops on New Year’s Eve, let’s lift our mental health! With 29% of people having expected to make a mental health-related New Year’s resolution for 2023, you’re … Read more

From family gatherings to financial pressures, the holiday season can take a toll on your mental health.

Becoming a Mental Health First Aider was a turning point in Brianna Hauser’s life. Her experiences as a survivor of domestic violence shaped her perspective on the importance of Mental … Read more

Recovering from a substance use challenge, whether it’s drugs or alcohol, is a process with ups and downs. It can be a rollercoaster ride for the person in recovery as … Read more

Sydney Snow has taken Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) by storm. Since receiving her certification in July 2023, Sydney has swiftly transitioned from a new Instructor to a guiding light … Read more

Content Warning: This blog contains sensitive content that may be distressing to some readers. Topics discussed include sexual assault, grief, and references to 9/11. Reader discretion is advised. If you … Read more

Working retail during the holidays used to cause great stress to Andrew Smith. The increase in customer stress and traffic flow on the sales floor compounded operational difficulties creating a … Read more

Tragic events – from school shootings to natural disasters – can make us feel out of sorts and depressed afterward. Hope may seem lost, whether you’re directly or indirectly affected … Read more

Losing someone you love is never easy. The loss can take a toll on a person’s mental wellbeing as grief and memories flood the mind. Feelings can range from sadness … Read more

According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, about 6% of people have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But PTSD affects more than military members and veterans. Just one event … Read more

The American Cancer Society uses the term “survivor” to refer to anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, no matter where they are in the course of the disease. Being … Read more

I first heard about teen Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) late summer of 2018. The National Council was piloting the program across the country. As a manager at North Texas … Read more

It’s World Mental Health Day! Each year, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) joins the World Health Organization to raise awareness about mental health around the world and support those experiencing … Read more

Life has a rhythm. Some seasons are busier than others, some are quieter and more predictable. Workloads ebb and flow. Relationships evolve. And then there are the curveballs thrown our … Read more

With 14 years of experience in the corrections industry, plus family in the field, Kristen Thompson has a bead on what goes on inside correctional facilities. Thompson, who is a … Read more

Mental Health First Aid USA only offers trainings to employees based in the United States at this time. Working in the retail industry is downright tough. It can be mentally … Read more

Do your employees know what to do or say if a coworker seems to be struggling with mental health challenges? Consider this: 40% of employees have reported that their jobs … Read more

Being part of this has been awesome. As a trainer, I get to help people really see the importance of Youth Mental Health First Aid. I am so passionate about … Read more

Our primary goal as educators is to help our kids learn. However, sometimes there may be something going on in their life that interferes with their ability to learn. Youth … Read more

My district has over 8,000 employees, so you can imagine it was a lot of work to meet the goal of training 80% of them in Youth Mental Health First … Read more

The first day of school is a welcome reprieve for many parents. Juggling childcare, work and summer activities can be flat-out exhausting! But, while parents may look forward to school-year … Read more

A staggering 90% of police officers surveyed reported stigma as a barrier to seeking mental health help. Some of that stigma stems from what they, and other people in public … Read more

Our nation has a youth mental health crisis. One in six youth and adolescents will experience a mental health condition in any given time, nearly half of teens (44%) report … Read more

When you have substance use challenges, navigating summertime social gatherings can be difficult. It can be hard to strike the balance between wanting to spend time with friends and family … Read more

Older Adults experience mental health challenges about the same rate as the general public. According to the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, one in four older adults has a mental … Read more

More than 4.5 million people have been trained in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). That is cause for celebration! Of course, we are thrilled that our community of First Aiders … Read more

The challenges people who live in rural communities are vastly different than those who live in urban areas. What is gained in wide, open spaces is traded for convenience. Trips … Read more

Anthony Campbell admits he used to be a “yeller.” Whether it was the way he was raised or his military background that instilled the behavior — probably a bit of … Read more