Adult Mental Health First Aid

What is Mental Health First Aid and what does it teach? • MHFA is skills-based training that teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use challenge. • Similar to physical First Aid and CPR, MHFA helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis until professional assistance is obtained or the crisis is resolved. • Mental Health First Aiders learn a 5-step Action Plan to recognize warning signs of a mental health or substance use challenge, provide help in crisis and non-crisis situations and understand where to turn for additional assistance. The 5-step Action Plan (ALGEE) is: Assess for risk of suicide or harm; listen nonjudgmentally; give reassurance and information; encourage appropriate professional help; and encourage self-help and other support strategies. • Through MHFA, more than 2.6 million people in the U.S. have been trained by over 25,000 certified Instructors to identify, understand, and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges. • Peer-reviewed studies have proven that trained Mental Health First Aiders are more knowledgeable and confident when it comes to identifying and helping an individual in distress.