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Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based, early-intervention course that teaches participants about mental health and substance use challenges.

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an older man and a younger man walk together

How To Become a Mental Health First Aider

Have you ever noticed a friend or family member become more distant? Or leaning on alcohol to cope? While talking about mental health challenges has become more normalized, it can be hard to know what to do or say when a friend, family member or colleague seems to be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. How can you help them? Mental Health First […]...

Mental Health First Aid training has taught the officer to ask his charges, “What happened?” instead of, “What’s wrong with you?”” –Officer Orlando Singleton
So many people are out there wishing for something better, hoping that help will show up. That’s what Mental Health First Aid is – it is help to get people connected to care and ultimately to get them to a better place.” –Tousha Paxton-Barnes, U.S. Army Veteran
I wish that every corrections officer could receive Mental Health First Aid training. I believe that our corrections system would be better because of it – the inmates would benefit, the officers would benefit and ultimately our communities would benefit.” –Lt. Virgil Meyer, Lieutenant, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
As adults, we sometimes forget how hard it was being an adolescent. When we see a kid who is just miserable at school, we might think they choose to be that way – or that it’s just part of adolescence. But in fact, they might be in a mental health crisis, one they certainly did not choose and do not want. When a teacher says “how can I be helpful,” that is a powerful question. ” –Alyssa Fruchtenicht, School-Based Mental Health Counselor