Mental Health First Aid & Youth Mental Health First Aid

"Stigma associated with mental illness needs to be directly addressed and eliminated."
                                                                                                                                  --Wisconsin School Mental Health Framework, 2015
WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID?  

​Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course that teaches how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training offers the skills needed to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem, or experiencing a crisis.

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID MATTERS.

Most of us would know how to help if we saw someone having a heart attack—we’d start CPR, or at the very least, call 9-1-1. But too few of us would know how to respond if we saw someone having a panic attack or if we were concerned that a friend or co-worker might be showing signs of alcoholism.
Mental Health First Aid takes the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems by improving understanding and providing an action plan that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental illness or substance use disorder.
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

​Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach adults who regularly interact with young people how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.

Who should take the course?
Anyone in your school who works with adolescents-- teachers, principals, coaches, office staff.

What's involved?
8 hours of time, purchase of a manual for each participant ($19 each), and cost of presenter (will vary). 

How to schedule a course?
Contact your CESA, or go to the MHFA site and find a presenter in your area. 
 https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/take-a-course/find-a-course/
Or contact the Wisconsin Safe and Healthy Schools Center. 

YMHFA Courses available through the WISH Center

WISCONSIN SAFE AND HEALTHY SCHOOLS CENTER
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction through Project AWARE grant funds can offer a limited number of YMHFA trainings at no cost to Wisconsin schools, organizations, and communities. 
For more information: https://www.wishschools.org/resources/youth-mental-health-first-aid.cfm
Click here to schedule a course through the WISH Center.

Adult MHFA

The adult Mental Health First Aid course is for anyone 18 years and older who wants to learn how to help a person who may be experiencing a mental health related crisis or problem. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addictions.

Youth MHFA

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach adults who regularly interact with young people how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.
Mental Health First Aid addresses the stigma associated with mental illness and works to eliminate it
through education and awareness.