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Mental Health First Aid Certification

Get Certified in Mental Health Aid

Conversations about mental health can be difficult to start. But 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.

The fact is, 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 a loss about what to do.

Upcoming Dates

All courses are complete for 2024. Keep an eye out for 2025 dates.

 

Interactive 

We offer this training from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. This public education program introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health challenges, builds an 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.

It’s interactive and 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 various Fridays. Due to the interactive nature of this course, there is a maximum of 30 participants per offering. 

In order to maintain the certification, recipients must retake the course every three years.

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
This program has been approved for 7.5 CLM credit hours, as follows:

 

  • 2-hour Mental Health First Aid Intro (self-paced):
    • 2 credits CLM App category: Organizational Development
    • No functional specialist credit
    • Recertification category: Communications and Organizational Management (CM)
  • Instructor-led portion: 3.5 credits
    • CLM App category: None
    • Functional Specialist: Human Resources Management
    • Recertification category: Human Resources Management
  • 1 credit:
    • Self-Management
  • 1 credit:
    • Recertification: Substance Abuse

     

HR Certification Institute (HRCI)

ALA is a recognized provider of HRCI recertification credits. All 2024 sessions of MHFA have been reviewed and approved for 7.5 hours of HRCI credits. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HR Certification Institute website.

To receive HRCI credit, you will need to self-report that you have completed the post-test and obtained your certificate.

The use of this seal is not an endorsement by the HR Certification Institute of the quality of the activity. It means that this activity has met the HR Certification Institute’s criteria to be preapproved for recertification credit.

Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM)

ALA is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs). All 2024 sessions of MHFA have been reviewed and approved for 7.5 hours for SHRM credits. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit shrmcertification.org.

To receive SHRM credit, you will need to self-report that you have completed the post-test and obtained your certificate.

 

This is designed for firms with locations/a presence in the United States. Registration fees are based on membership status (ALA member or) on the date registration and payment are received (by 11:59 p.m. Central). ALA members may register for the conference at the member rate noted on the registration form. Nonmember registration is restricted to individuals who are not currently members of ALA but who do meet the eligibility requirements for ALA membership. Learn more about membership eligibility requirements or contact the ALA Membership Department at +1-847-267-1585.

Registration Policies

Cancellations

Due to the limited number of seats available in each offering of this course, we ask that you please notify ALA as early as possible if you are unable to attend so that your spot may be opened up for a fellow ALA member. If it is past the no refund date and you are able to find a substitute to take your spot before the substitution deadline, you will be eligible for a refund, less the $29 administrative fee.

No-shows and late cancellations forfeit the full registration fees. The following cancellation fees will apply to the four dates offered:

Event Date Date Requested Cancellation Fee Date Requested Refund
Friday, April 5, 2024 March 14, 2024 - March 26, 2024 $29 March 27, 2024, and after No refund
Friday, April 12, 2024 March 14, 2024 - April 2, 2024 $29 April 3, 2024, and after No refund
Friday, April 19, 2024 March 14, 2024 - April 9, 2024 $29 April 10, 2024, and after No refund
Friday, April 26, 2024 March 14, 2024 - April 16, 2024 $29 April 17, 2024, and after No refund
Friday, May 10, 2024 March 14, 2024 - April 30, 2024 $29 May 1, 2024, and after No refund
Friday, August 9, 2024 March 14, 2024 - July 30, 2024 $29 July 31, 2024, and after No refund
Friday, August 16, 2024 March 14, 2024 - August 6, 2024 $29 August 7, 2024, and after No refund
Friday, August 23, 2024 March 14, 2024 - August 13, 2024 $29 August 14, 2024, and after No refund

All cancellations require a written request sent to [email protected]. Cancellation notifications via phone or social media (for example, posting on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages) are not accepted. 

Substitutions

Substitutions are permitted until the deadlines indicated below for a $29 administrative fee. The substitute's registration fee will be adjusted if a nonmember replaces an ALA member. Please submit a written request to [email protected] for processing. If you are able to find a substitute after the no refund date but before the substitution deadline, you will be eligible for a refund, less the $29 administrative fee.

Event Date No Substitutions After
Friday, April 5, 2024 Monday, April 1, 2024
Friday, April 12, 2024 Monday, April 8, 2024
Friday, April 19, 2024 Monday, April 15, 2024
Friday, April 26, 2024 Monday, April 22, 2024
Friday, May 10, 2024 Monday, May 6, 2024
Friday, August 9, 2024 Monday, August 5, 2024
Friday, August 16, 2024 Monday, August 12, 2024
Friday, August 23, 2024 Monday, August 19, 2024

Conference Consent Policy

By registering for any one of the eight offerings of this ALA program, you are consenting to receive conference-related communications from ALA, Mental Health First Aid and supporting business partners, as well as inclusion in attendee lists which are shared with all registered participants. ALA members who have opted out of business partner communications will appear on attendee lists and are removed from event rosters accessible by business partners if containing full contact information.

Photo/Video Policy

Registration (attendee and exhibitor) and payment for the conference give consent that any pictures, video or audio recordings taken during ALA and ALA-related events can be used for conference coverage and future ALA promotional purposes. ALA is able to use your likeness without remuneration.

Association of Legal Administrators Meeting Code of Conduct

ALA is committed to providing a safe, productive and welcoming environment for all meeting participants and ALA staff. All participants, including but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, vendors, sponsors, guests, ALA staff members and service providers (collectively, “participants”), are expected to abide by this Meeting Code of Conduct (“Code”), ALA’s Code of Ethics and other applicable ALA policies, whether participating in-person or virtually. This Code applies to all ALA webinars, educational sessions, conferences, meetings and meeting-related events, including those sponsored by organizations other than ALA but held in conjunction with ALA events, whether on public or private platforms (collectively, “meetings”).

ALA has zero-tolerance for any form of discrimination, harassment (including but not limited to sexual harassment), or other disruptive or unacceptable behavior by participants at or during ALA meetings.

View the the complete code, including information on reporting incidents, unacceptable behaviors and resulting actions, here.

 

Questions About Mental Health First Aid? 

We're here to help! For questions about the course or registration, email us at [email protected]. If you have a question about certification or credits, email [email protected].


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