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Mental Health First Aid Doctoral Student Grants

Overview

The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) USA Doctoral Student Grants represent a commitment by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing to grow the research and evaluation behind all MHFA programs.

Each year, the grant will provide a one-time award of $5,000 to four outstanding full-time doctoral students who demonstrate significant potential as researchers in their fields of study and who are interested in evaluating the outcomes of MHFA trainings in the U.S.

Eligibility

Doctoral grant candidates must meet the following criteria:

  • Documented experience with
    MHFA (e.g., as a MHFA Instructor or Coordinator) and/or a strong interest in MHFA
  • Full-time student pursuing a doctoral degree in psychology, public health or related field of study.
  • Previous evaluation experience and demonstrated ability to document findings through publications and/or presentations.

Requirements

Once funded, doctoral grant recipients must:

  • Participate in quarterly research calls with the MHFA Research and Evaluation team.
  • Submit a final report of research findings to MHFA within two years of receiving the grant.
  • Participate in a MHFA-sponsored event highlighting research.
  • Pursue a formal non-MHFA publication or presentation opportunity.

Learn More

Our 2024 MHFA Doctoral Student Grant Awardees

Sonita Simelus is a second-year doctoral student at Mercer University-Atlanta

Sonita Simelus

second-year doctoral student at Mercer University-Atlanta
Anaderi Iniguez is a fifth-year student in the Prevention Science PhD program at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington.

Anaderi Iniguez

fifth-year student in the Prevention Science PhD program at Washington State University
Romy is a third-year student in the School Psychology PhD program at University of Maryland, College Park.

Romy Stancofski

third-year student in the School Psychology PhD program at University of Maryland, College Park

Our 2023 MHFA Doctoral Student Grant Awardees

Jian (Lily) Chen

Jian (Lily) Chen

second-year Ph.D. student, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Morgan Grant

Morgan J. Grant, MS, MBA, CHES, CPH

third-year Ph.D. student, Health Education, Texas A&M University
Cho Rong Claudia Won

Cho Rong Claudia Won

fifth-year Ph.D. student, School of Social Work, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Denise “Dee” Yookong Williams

Denise “Dee” Yookong Williams

third-year doctoral student, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work

Our 2022 MHFA Doctoral Student Grant Awardees

Headshot of Ami Patel

Ami Patel

Second-year Ph.D. student, School Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park
Diksha Bali Headshot

Diksha Bali

Third-year Ph.D. student, School Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park
Ashley Coburn Headshot

Ashley Coburn

Third-year Ph.D. student, School Psychology, University of Northern Colorado
Breanna King Headshot

Breanna King

Third-year Ph.D. student, School Psychology, University of Northern Colorado
Natalie Malone Headshot

Natalie Malone

Fourth-year Ph.D. student, Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky

Our 2021 MHFA Doctoral Student Grant Awardees

Caroline Barry

Second-year PhD student, behavioral, social and health education sciences, Emory University

Mazneen Havewala

Second-year PhD student, school psychology, University of Maryland, College Park

Olivia Khoo

Fourth-year PhD student, school psychology, Columbia University

Melanie Soderstrom

Fifth-year PhD student, criminal justice, University of Central Florida
  • 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
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