Building a mentally healthy community starts by empowering people to lead it. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor training equips your staff with the knowledge, skills and confidence to deliver life-changing MHFA courses within your organization and beyond.
MHFA equips participants with practical skills to recognize the signs of mental health and substance use challenges and respond appropriately — not as clinicians, but as compassionate first lines of support.
By hosting a private Instructor training, you’re creating internal experts who can scale mental health education, strengthen your workforce and expand support throughout your community.
Over 4.5 million
First Aiders trained since 2008
Whether your goal is to strengthen staff preparedness, expand community outreach or embed mental health education, MHFA Instructor training provides a proven path forward.
Why Organizations Choose Private MHFA Training
MHFA Instructor training is a nationally recognized certification program designed for organizations that want to build internal capacity for mental health education.
Through MHFA’s train-the-trainer model, employees become certified MHFA Instructors who can deliver MHFA courses within their organization and community.
MHFA curricula are designed for the populations you serve, such as Adult MHFA for adults helping other adults or Youth MHFA for adults who want to help youth.
During the three-day training, expert National Trainers from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing guide participants through a comprehensive certification process. This approach creates a practical, lasting way to expand mental health education across your organization or broader community.
The Private Training Process
Here’s what your private MHFA Instructor training experience will look like:
1. Build a Team of Instructors
National Council staff work closely with your organization to coordinate logistics and training details. We’ll help manage rosters, distribute materials, relay training information to the candidates and troubleshoot throughout the process.
Over three days, plus independent study and practice, up to 16 participants can become certified MHFA Instructors.
Organizations can choose to train their Instructor candidates to lead Adult MHFA or Youth MHFA, depending on who your staff regularly serves — adults or youth ages 12-18.
Private training offers:
- Expert coaching from National Trainers
- A model for long-term mental health education
- Content tailored to the populations your organization serves
- Flexible delivery options, including in-person and virtual formats
Instructor candidates will learn to:
- Apply MHFA instructional guiding principles.
- Use MHFA teaching materials and platforms effectively.
- Build facilitation and presentation skills through live teaching practice.
- Understand policies, accommodations and best practices.
2. Teach MHFA to Others
Once your Instructor team is certified, they can begin delivering MHFA training within your organization and throughout the community. With continued, dedicated support during the first 90 days — which could include office hours, webinars, technical assistance and support — new Instructors can confidently launch training programs and expand access to mental health education.
MHFA training is valuable for:
- Staff who work directly the public
- First responders and public safety personnel
- Corrections officers
- Health care professionals
- Faculty and staff in higher education
- Teachers and school personnel
- Community organizations serving rural populations
- Professionals working with older adults
Dedicated Support:
Your MHFA Instructors receive 90 days of support from the National Council to ensure they’re set up for success. We’ll help you with:
- Understanding MHFA program fidelity
- Best practices for teaching classes
- Basic skills needed to use the MHFA Navigator course management platform and schedule courses
- Accessing available support and resources
You’ll also have access to an implementation specialist who will provide:
- Email Resources
- One email is sent every other week after candidates finish their Instructor training course and post-work. These emails direct newly certified Instructors to valuable resources and tools for success.
- Support Sessions
- Regular office hours where MHFA staff review MHFA Navigator and answer questions.
- Customized Resources
- Recorded webinars
- Timing guides for Instructors
MHFA training is designed to transform how your organization and community understand and respond to mental health and substance use challenges.
3. Drive Positive Change in Your Community
Hosting a private MHFA training does more than build staff skills — it positions your organization as a leader in community mental health and wellbeing.
Organizations that implement MHFA training often report:
- Greater staff confidence supporting individuals in crisis
- Reduced stigma around mental health
- Stronger community relationships
- A more supportive workplace culture
- Long-term improvements in mental health literacy
Ready to Bring MHFA To Your Organization?
MHFA is supported by nearly 100 peer-reviewed studies demonstrating its effectiveness. For organizations committed to building strong, healthier communities, training a group of MHFA Instructors internally offers a lasting way to expand mental health education.
Many organizations incorporate MHFA into staff onboarding, leadership development, community outreach and workplace wellness initiatives.
MHFA Instructor training puts your organization at the forefront of community mental health education.
If you’re ready to take the next step for mental wellbeing, MHFA is your answer.
