Five Million Strong
Five million people are now trained in Mental Health First Aid across the United States.
This milestone belongs to every First Aider, Instructor, Coordinator, partner organization and community that has made mental wellbeing a priority. Together, you’ve built a movement that is changing lives every day, and this is only the beginning.
Join us in celebrating this historic milestone! Download our “I Helped March to 5 Million” graphic, tag Mental Health First Aid on social media, tell your story and help us reach millions more people across the country.
Join the March to 5 Million
MHFA just doesn’t happen without our Instructors. Your dedication, leadership and passion have made everything possible. We are excited to March to 5 Million alongside you.
Here are some of the ways you can join the March:
- Keep teaching: Every class brings us closer to the goal of 5 million trained First Aiders. Make a personal goal for your teaching (“I commit to training __ First Aiders”).
- Share your story: Tell us why you became a MHFA Instructor and what keeps you teaching.
- Promote the movement: Download our graphics to inspire others to promote your efforts.
Faces of 5 Million
5 million people decided to make a difference. 5 million people chose to be ready to support their family, friends, coworkers, neighbors and communities. The Faces of 5 Million campaign spotlights members of the MHFA community whose stories reflect the compassion, commitment and impact behind this historic milestone — showcasing the people who are changing lives and strengthening communities every day.
Join us in celebrating the Faces of 5 Million on social media.
Keep the Momentum Going
We’re celebrating the incredible work MHFA Instructors are doing to train the next generation of First Aiders. Help us keep the momentum going!
You can still participate in our campaign to grow the First Aider community. Instructors can earn recognition and rewards for expanding their impact.
Impact Contest
You already make such an impact in your community — and we want to celebrate that. Active MHFA Instructors who train at least 100 new First Aiders by Oct. 10, 2026, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a $1,500 MHFA Storefront voucher and merch bundle.
Contest Prizes:
We’ll randomly select three winners — one from each Instructor category:
- Adult Instructor Winner
$1,500 MHFA Store voucher plus exclusive merch bundle - Youth Instructor Winner
$1,500 MHFA Store voucher plus exclusive merch bundle - Teen Instructor Winner
$1,500 MHFA Store voucher plus exclusive merch bundle
It’s our way of celebrating the dedication and leadership of the Instructor community that makes Mental Health First Aid possible. View the full rules here.
Resources
To help you get started, we’ve developed a toolkit to help spread the word about the March to 5 Million. The toolkit includes:
- March to 5 Million social media graphics
- Email signature
- Updated Instructor Marketing Guide with new email templates for outreach
Monthly Instructor Leaderboard
See the incredible impact Instructors across the country are making. Each month leading up to October 10, we’ll share a monthly leaderboard in our newsletters, featuring the top 10 Instructors who are making the biggest impact.
Get your name on the list!
July’s Top Instructors
Rank
Instructor
Number of First Aiders Trained
1
Karen Coleman
1,166
2
Amy Anderson
526
3
Ricky Wiles
402
4
Kendra Cates
399
5
Teresa Rodriguez Gonzales
339
6
Jaime Grammer
270
7
John Becker
194
8
Mabel Martinez-Almonte
180
9
Brenda Martin
170
10
Joshua Munkeby
164
Kickoff Webinar
March to 5 Million kicked off with a special Instructor webinar.
During the session, we discussed:
- The progress toward 5 million Mental Health First Aiders
- Why Instructor leadership is essential to reaching the milestone
- Opportunities to participate in the campaign
- Strategies for growing your classes and expanding your reach
Check out some of the success stories!
The Journey Continues
Our aim is to ensure everyone in America has at least one First Aider in their close circle of friends, family and peers. Every 1 in 15 people should be certified to identify, understand and respond to the signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.
Not certified in MHFA yet? Find a course near you and #BeThe1in15.
Subscribe to our newsletter to follow along with the Faces of 5 Million, get resources for First Aiders and Instructors, and get early access to exclusive commemorative merchandise.
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