Upcoming Training Dates
Mental Health First Aid
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Youth Mental Health First Aid
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Mental Health First Aid
Identify. Understand. Respond.
Mental Health First Aid USA is an 8-hour training to teach participants how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it helps trainees identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
Earn a certification
The completion of the 8-hour course earns participants Mental Health First Aider Certification through the National Council for Behavioral Health, which is valid for three years. Certification is ideal for educators, community volunteers, social service providers, business leaders, training departments, supervisors and organizations dealing directly with the public. Anyone is able and encouraged to take this course.
Why it's important
COVID-19 has created a more immediate need for this training, as the pandemic is causing overwhelming feelings of loneliness, fear, and depression/anxiety for many who have previously not needed mental health supports, compounding the mental health struggles which were already impacting 1 in 4 Americans.
“I feel that Mental Health First Aid will GREATLY help me interact with the most vulnerable citizens in our community. Thank you, DFL for offering us this important training.”
Heather
"These are not just people that are struggling in the news. These are our friends, our colleagues, our family… and we can’t afford to lose another one of them."
Ian
Course Format & Requirements
Courses are offered in person and virtually. Please review carefully for your selection.
Once you register for a Mental Health First Aid course, you will receive self-guided mandatory coursework within a few weeks of your training date that you will need to complete prior to your facilitator-led class.
One or two certified instructors lead each course and follow a national evidence-based curriculum. Classes will consist of 30 people or less. All participants must be age 18 and older.
Mental Health First Aid Participant Requirements for Virtual Courses:
- Must have access to Zoom and a camera/microphone
- Must commit to three hours of self-guided mandatory coursework prior to the class
- Must commit to a five and a half hour, facilitator-led, group training course taking place by Zoom on the date you select
Mental Health First Aid Participant Requirements for In-Person Courses :
- Must have access to laptop/computer or portable mobile device
- Must commit to eight hours of in-person, instructor-led group training
- Must bring to class a portable mobile device to allow for completion of quiz/evaluation
If you would like to coordinate a private training for your organization or group of 10-30 participants, please email [email protected].
Register Now
By signing up for the virtual course below, you are committing to a five and a half hour, facilitator-led, group training course taking place by Zoom on the date you select, and you are confirming that you will complete the three hours of self-guided mandatory coursework (which will be sent to you by email within one week of your scheduled class date) on your own time before your group training. For the in-person course, you are committing to an eight hour, facilitator-led group training at our Clearwater location (1437 S Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL). If you are unable to make these commitments, we ask that you leave this spot open for someone who can, and check back at a later time to register for a date that will work better for your schedule.
Please note that classes are subject to cancelation if the minimum number of participants isn’t met, per MHFA national standards. In the event of a cancellation for this reason, you will notified three days prior to your scheduled course date and offered alternate dates to select from for rescheduling.
If you would like to coordinate a private training for your organization or group of 10-30 participants, please email [email protected].
Rescheduling
If you can’t make it to the class that you registered for, please let us know at least 5 days prior to the class by emailing [email protected]. You will be able to reschedule your training within one year of your registration date.