Mental Health First Aid

Education to better support yourself and others
Schedule your MHFA training

What is Mental Health First Aid?

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an early intervention public education program. It teaches adults how to recognize the signs and symptoms that suggest a potential mental health challenge, how to listen nonjudgmentally and give reassurance to a person who may be experiencing a mental health challenge, and how to refer a person to appropriate professional support and services.

As part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant awarded to Lutheran Family Services, this training is provided for your organization at no charge. The materials and trainer are all included.

 

MHFA has two types of trainings, each offered in person and virtually.

Adult MHFA Training trains participants to apply the skills learned to an adult population (ages 18 and older).

Youth MHFA Training trains participants to apply the skills learned to an adolescent population (about ages 13 to 18).

How does Mental Health First Aid help?

Studies show that anyone trained to administer Mental Health First Aid increase their knowledge and ability to:

• Identify the impact of mental health challenges on the well-being of youth and adults in the U.S.
• Increase their knowledge of signs, symptoms, and risk factors of mental illnesses and addictions.
• Increase their confidence in and likelihood to help an individual in distress.
• Explain that recovery from a mental health challenge is possible.
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges that may impact youth and adults.
• Evaluate the impact of early intervention on mental health challenges.
• Can identify multiple types of professional and self-help resources for individuals with a mental illness or addiction.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Training

  • As part of the SAMHSA grant awarded to Lutheran Family Services, your organization will not have to pay for training. The materials and trainer are all included. However, if your organization would like to include food or drinks for any in person trainings, your organization would be responsible for those costs.

Formats of Mental Health First Aid Training

  • MHFA has two types of trainings, each offered in person and virtually.

    • Adult MHFA Training trains participants to apply the skills learned to an adult population (ages 18 and older).
    • Youth MHFA Training trains participants to apply the skills learned to an adolescent population (about ages 13 to 18).

     

    Some of the information and many of the skills learned are similar. However, if you wondering which training is the best fit, the Training Coordinator will be able to assist you in determining which training to select.

  • The blended training format requires all participants to complete some online modules (pre-work) prior to the in person or virtual training sessions led by a trainer. This work is required. Participants who do not complete the pre-work will not be allowed to participate in the training sessions.

Training Schedule Options

  • In person training takes place in person, hosted at a location secured by your organization. One to two trainers will present the information to your participants.

     

    Adult MHFA in person:

    • One session – 7.5 hours
    • Two sessions – about 4 hours each
    • Four sessions – about 2 hours each

    Blended Format (about 2 hours of pre-work to be completed prior to the in person led training) then:

    • One session – 5.5 hours
    • Two sessions – about 3 hours each

     

    Youth MHFA in person:

    • One session – 6.5 hours
    • Two sessions – about 3.5 hours each

    Blended Format (about 2 hours of pre-work to be completed prior to the in person led training) then:

    • One session – 4.5 hours
    • Two sessions – about 2.5 hours each

     

    Please note: These training times do not include breaks. If you would like to build in breaks, the Training Coordinator can work with you to set the schedule.

  • Virtual training utilizes Zoom or Teams, so it is important that all participants have access to and are familiar with the basic functions of these online meeting spaces.

    Adult MHFA Virtual:

    • One session – 7.5 hours
    • Two sessions – about 4 hours each
    • Four sessions – about 2 hours each

    Blended (about 2 hours of pre-work to be completed prior to the virtual training) then:

    • One session – 5.5 hours
    • Two sessions – about 3 hours each

     

    Youth MHFA Virtual:

    • One session – 6.5 hours
    • Two sessions – about 3.5 hours each

    Blended Format (about 2 hours of pre-work to be completed prior to the virtual training) then:

    • One session – 4.5 hours
    • Two sessions – about 2.5 hours each

     

    Please note: These training times do not include breaks. If you would like to build in breaks, the Training Coordinator can work with you to set the schedule.

  • Breaks are encouraged throughout MHFA training, especially for longer training sessions. The Training Coordinator will work with you to determine what might work best for your organization.

Technology Requirements

  • When hosting training in person, it is ideal to have access to AV equipment in the training room that allows the trainer to project information up on a larger screen for everyone to see. If possible, access to a computer connected to the projection system is ideal, however, trainers can bring laptops (connections/cords would need to be provided by the organization).

  • Every person participating in virtual training should have access to their own computer so that they can participate in training independently. Participants do not need to be experts at Zoom or Teams but should at least have access to these services and know their basic functionality. All virtual training sessions will be set up by the trainers and all participants will be given the link and information necessary to log in and participate.

MHFA Certification

  • After completing your training you will receive MHFA certification! After you complete the post work via your account in Connect, you will have access to download the certificate. All post work is required to earn your certificate of completion.

  • MHFA Certification is valid for three years from the date of certification.

  • When your Adult or Youth MHFA certification expires (when it has been three or more years since you took the course), you will receive an email with the link to a re-certification website. When you have completed the course, you will automatically receive a new certificate of completion for download.

Other Questions

  • If you have questions about this information, would like the Mental Health First Aid Training Form sent to you electronically, or need any assistance, please reach out to Julie Taylor-Costello, our Community Outreach and Training Coordinator.

    julie.taylor-costello@onelfs.org               (402) 312-1172

Grant and Partnership Information

 

  • Faith Partners is thrilled to collaborate with the Lutheran Family Services. This has resulted from a successful Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) Grant application for five years (2022-2026) from Substance Abuse and Mental health Service Administration (SAMHSA). This work will include providing Mental health First Aid training throughout the various community sectors including parents, law enforcement, and the faith community.

    Faith Partners’ mission is to equip people of faith to serve with an informed, compassionate response to the risk and prevalence of addiction and related mental health issues. Our mission is accomplished through providing leadership, training, consultation, and educational materials in the development of these specialized ministries. We believe an informed clergy supported by committed, trained congregational members have a tremendous opportunity to serve their congregational community. They can offer help to those who suffer from addiction and mental health issues by responding to individuals and families through recovery support activities and assistance to those who want to prevent problems through awareness, education and early intervention strategies.

    Since our initial work in the late 1980s and ultimately its founding in1995, Faith Partners, an incorporated 501(c)(3) non-profit, has worked to develop congregationally-based lay team ministries. Each team helps to create a healing place to meet individuals and families in their brokenness and decision-making through awareness, education and recovery support activities. Faith Partners has trained well over a thousand congregational teams from 23 different faith traditions in 29 states. The Faith Partners team ministry model is unique in that:
    • It builds on congregational strengths by involving lay people with willingness to serve and special expertise;
    • Carefully utilizes clergy support based on their time, energy, and desired level of involvement;
    • Trains lay teams in five ministry areas including prevention, early intervention, referral assistance, recovery support, and advocacy;
    • Chooses evidence-based programming and strategies that meet the congregational community’s evolving needs;
    • Networks congregational teams with needed community resources;
    • Provides activities that are relevant to the whole congregation using the full continuum of care; and,
    • Cultivates a compassionate response to all human problems, creating long-lasting change that makes the congregation a more safe, hospitable place and an educational platform for mental health, suicide prevention, domestic violence, and other related issues.

    A specialized ministry often takes 3-5 years to become part of the fabric of a congregation or community. This partnership is meant to create the needed supports and scaffolding to build an effective, sustainable network of congregational ministries. These established prevention and recovery support activities offer real HOPE, HELP, and HEALING.