MENTAL HEALTH
FIRST AID CERTIFICATION
Mental Health First Aid USA
Mental Health First Aid is a public education program that introduces participants to risk factors and
warning signs of mental illnesses, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common
supports. This 8-hour course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to offer initial help
in a mental health crisis and connect persons to the appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help
care. The program also teaches the common risk factors and warning signs of specific types of illnesses,
like anxiety, depression, substance use, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and schizophrenia. Mental
Health First Aid is included on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s
National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP).
Like CPR, Mental Health First Aid prepares participants to interact with a person in crisis and connect the
person with help. First Aiders do not take on the role of professionals — they do not diagnose or provide
any counseling or therapy. Instead, the program offers concrete tools and answers key questions, like
“what do I do?” and “where can someone find help?” Certified Mental Health First Aid instructors
provide a list of community healthcare providers and national resources, support groups, and online
tools for mental health and addictions treatment and support. All trainees receive a program manual to
compliment the course material.
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID FOR VETERANS ( Our Specialty )
Family members and personnel working with military and families are often not aware of how to engage
veterans with mental illnesses and addictions. In addition to the impact of military service on the
veteran, each has a circle of family (significant other, children, parents, siblings, etc.) and friends who
are also impacted by their military service.
Mental Health First Aid offers a simple, proven combination of information and techniques for effective
interventions. A tailored module builds upon the effectiveness of the standard Mental Health First Aid
curriculum by focusing on the unique experiences and needs of the military, veteran and family
population.
