Mental Health First Aid

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Essex: 973-509-9777
Morris: 973-334-3496
Passaic: 973-470-3142
Sussex: 973-579-4399

What is Mental Health First Aid?

Mental Health First Aid is an early intervention public education program. It teaches adults how to recognize the signs and symptoms that suggest a potential mental health challenge, how to listen nonjudgmentally and give reassurance to a person who may be experiencing a mental health challenge, and how to refer a person to appropriate professional support and services.

Mental Health First Aid was created in Australia in 2000 by Betty Kitchener, an educator and mental health consumer, and Professor Tony Jorm, a mental health researcher. In 2008, the National Council, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health brought Mental Health First Aid to the United States. A number of Mental Health First Aid USA courses and manuals have been developed to suit the needs of specific populations within the United States.

The course is designed to teach people how to approach, assess, and assist a person who may be in the early stages of developing a mental health challenge or in a mental health crisis. It covers common signs and symptoms of mental illness and symptoms of substance abuse, how to interact with a person in crisis, and how to connect the person with help.

This program is supported in part by the Morris County Commissioners.

123

People die by suicide each day, on average – American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

630K

People died from drug overdose from 1999 to 2016 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1 in 5

U.S. adults live with a mental illness - National Institute of Mental Health via the National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Blended Mental Health First Aid Course

The Blended Mental Health First Aid Course (2-hour self-paced; 5.5 hours in-person) focuses on recognizing the patterns of thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and appearance that show there might be a mental health challenge. Participants are taught an action plan that they apply to non-crisis and crisis situations.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Describe the purpose of Mental Health First Aid and the role of the Mental Health First Aider.
Identify the impact of mental health challenges on the well-being of adults in the U.S.
Explain that recovery from a mental health challenge is possible.
Describe the principles of safety and privacy for both the Mental Health First Aider and the person receiving first aid.
Explain the 5 steps of the Mental Health First Aid Action Plan (ALGEE).
Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges that may impact adults. Evaluate the impact of early intervention on mental health challenges.
Apply the appropriate steps of the MHFA Action Plan (ALGEE) when a person shows early signs of a mental health challenge.
Apply the appropriate steps of the MHFA Action Plan (ALGEE) when a person shows worsening signs of a mental health challenge.
Apply the appropriate steps of the MHFA Action Plan (ALGEE) to crisis situations.
Choose appropriate methods for self-care following the application of Mental Health First Aid in a crisis or non-crisis situation.

Request a Training

In order to request a Mental Health First Aid training, please fill out the contact form and a trained counselor will get back to you soon with more information. There is a fee for training.

We are currently certified to teach Youth Mental Health First Aid, Adult Mental Health First Aid, Law Enforcement and First Responders, and Senior Mental Health First Aid.