What is Mental Health First Aid and what does it teach?

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a skills-based training program designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and techniques to identify, comprehend, and respond effectively to signs of mental health or substance use challenges. Similar to physical First Aid and CPR, MHFA enables participants to provide support to individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis until professional help is available or the crisis is resolved.

​

Participants in MHFA learn a structured 5-step Action Plan, known as ALGEE, which includes assessing for risk, listening nonjudgmentally, providing reassurance and information, encouraging professional help, and promoting self-help and other support strategies. With over 3 million individuals trained in the U.S., MHFA has empowered countless individuals to recognize and address mental health and substance use issues.

​

Peer-reviewed studies have shown that MHFA-trained individuals exhibit increased knowledge and confidence in assisting individuals in distress. The updated MHFA curriculum includes definitions and guidance on trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), emphasizing early intervention and support following traumatic events like those related to COVID-19. Additionally, the curriculum emphasizes the importance of self-care in resilience and recovery, assisting First Aiders in developing personalized self-care action plans to navigate traumas and stressors effectively.

​

Topics Covered

• Depression and mood disorders

• Anxiety disorders

• Trauma

• Psychosis

• Substance Use disorders

• ​

Mental Health First Aid teaches about recovery and resiliency – the belief that individuals experiencing these challenges can and do get better, and use their strengths to stay well.