Mental Health First Aid Certification Program

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a public education program that introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health challenges, builds understanding of their impact and provides an overview of appropriate supports. It teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders.

ALA’s Mental Health First Aid Certification Program is an interactive training course comprised of 2 hours of self-paced content (to be completed online independently prior to the live session) and one 6.5-hour instructor-led session over Zoom. The one-day training program will be offered on four separate Fridays. Due to the interactive nature of this course, there is a maximum of 30 participants per offering.

Winter 2023 course dates:

Friday, January 13, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Central  

Friday, January 20, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Central 

Friday, January 27, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Central 

Friday, February 3, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Central 

Registration for summer and fall 2023 sessions will open later in 2023. Visit the Save the Date page for more information.

Background

One in five Americans has a mental illness, but many are reluctant to seek help or might not know where to turn for care. It's hard enough for friends and family to know when and how to provide support. But when mental health challenges affect an individual's work, their employers and colleagues may be at even more of loss about what to do.

Just as CPR helps even those without clinical training to assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) prepares participants to interact with a person experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. Mental Health First Aiders learn a five-step action plan that guides them through the process of reaching out and offering appropriate support.

MHFA was introduced in the United States in 2008 and has become a significant movement here — over 2 million people are certified Mental Health First Aiders, and that number is growing every day. The course is offered to a variety of audiences, including university professors and staff; doctors, nurses and other hospital employees; employers; business leaders; faith communities; and law enforcement.

A 2018 study of the Adult and Youth Mental Health USA curricula concluded that the program:

• Reduced stigma around mental illness.
• Increased participant knowledge about mental health.
• Raised participant confidence to use the MHFA five-step action plan (ALGEE).
  

Course Details

MHFA is designed for firms with locations/a presence in the United States and is a public education program that introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health challenges, builds understanding of their impact and provides an overview of appropriate supports. The course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to offer initial help in a mental health crisis and connect people to the appropriate professional, peer, social and self-help care. The program also teaches common risk factors and warning signs of mental health challenges.

Each class is provided in a blended format:

• Online Prework: It takes place on an e-learning platform in a self-paced, on-demand format. Participants will be invited to complete this on their own the week prior to their registered date. This self-paced work is expected to take approximately two hours and must be completed prior to the start of the live session.
  

• Friday Live Session: This session is led by an instructor. Held over Zoom, this part of the course provides an interactive experience for 6.5 hours of synchronous learning. View the MHFA Course Syllabus provided by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
  

• Obtaining Certificate: Following the conclusion of the live session, attendees will be asked to complete a post-test to obtain their Mental Health First Aid Certification certificate, which is valid for three years.

This course teaches attendees how to apply the ALGEE action plan:

• Assess for risk of suicide or harm.
• Listen nonjudgmentally.
• Give reassurance and information.
• Encourage appropriate professional help.
• Encourage self-help and other support strategies.

As part of their enrollment, each participant will have access to:

• The Mental Health First Aid Participant E-Manual, which provides detailed information on how to use the MHFA five-step action plan, plus peer-reviewed research on signs, symptoms and how to support others
• The Participant Processing Guide, used throughout the course
• National mental health resources
• A Self-Care Action Plan