Mental Health First Aid: About the Program
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Mental Health First Aid is a groundbreaking public education program that helps the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. Mental Health First Aid USA is managed, operated, and disseminated by three national authorities — the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health.
Mental Health First Aid is offered in the form of an interactive 12-hour course that presents an overview of mental illness and substance use disorders in the U.S. and introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common treatments. Those who take the 12-hour course to certify as Mental Health First Aiders learn a 5-step action plan encompassing the skills, resources and knowledge to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help care.
The 12-hour Mental Health First Aid USA course has benefited a variety of audiences and key professions, including hospitals, employers and business leaders, faith communities, school personnel, state police and corrections staff, nursing homes, mental health authorities, state policymakers, young people, families and the general public. See how you can get involved — find a 12-hour Mental Health First Aid course near you or learn how you can become a certified instructor to teach the 12-hour course in your community.
Questions about Mental Health First Aid USA? Contact Susan Partain at the National Council at SusanP@thenationalcouncil.org or 202.684.3732.
Note: This site presents information about Mental Health First Aid USA. For information on the Australian program, go to www.mhfa.com.au.
