MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)  teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health challenges, mental health crisis, or substance use challenges among adults. MHFA can save a life, just like CPR or physical first aid. We offer trainings customized for specific areas of interest. Click here to see the variety of trainings offered.

 

To date, over 2.6 million people across the country have been trained in MHFA. Integral Care began offering MHFA to the community in 2006. We have trained over 14,000 people in Central Texas, including Capitol staffers, representatives from the City of Austin, Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services,  University of Texas, Austin Community College, Huston-Tillotson University, Front Steps, Goodwill Industries of Texas, AIDS Service of Austin, Mobile Loaves and Fishes and many more.

  • Mental illness is common – approximately 1 in 5 adults will experience a mental illness
  • 50% of mental health issues can be identified by age 14

Who should take MHFA?

Anyone! MHFA gives people the tools they need to help friends, family, colleagues and community members. It answers key questions like “What do I do? and “Where can someone find help?”

 

What will I learn in MHFA?

  • Warning signs, symptoms and risk factors of mental illness
  • Information on depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, suicide and substance use disorder
  • A 5-step action plan to help someone showing signs of mental illness or someone potentially in crisis
  • Professional and self-help resources

There are multiple types of MHFA trainings.

 

  • Adult MHFA, offered in English and Spanish, is for anyone who wants to learn how to help someone showing signs of mental illness and/or substance use disorder or experiencing a mental health crisis.
  • Youth MHFA is for anyone who works with youth and young adults ages 12-18 who may be in the early stages of a mental health problem, substance use disorder or crisis. Instructors review the risk factors and warning signs for this age group. The training emphasizes the importance of early intervention.
  • Veterans, Military Members and Their Families MHFA is customized for family members and anyone who works with veterans, service members and their families. This training focuses on the unique experiences and needs of this population.
  • Public Safety MHFA is customized for police, first responders, corrections officers, and other public safety audiences. The training provides officers with more response options to help them deescalate incidents and better understand mental health related calls.
  • Higher Education MHFA is customized for anyone in a college or university setting. Instructors train students, faculty and others to recognize the signs of emerging mental illnesses and/or substance use disorder or to assist young adults in a mental health crisis. The training emphasizes the importance of early intervention.

MHFA is a great addition to a wellness program. It can provide managers and employees the tools they need to support each other and identify the signs of a mental health crisis and substance use challenges. Just like you support your employees with physical wellness programs, mental health programs are just as important.

 

What it covers

  • Noticing signs and symptoms of substance use and mental health challenges
  • Navigating conversations about mental health or substance use concerns
  • Knowing that recovery is possible – and how to support it
  • Tackling mental health stigma in the workplace
  • Principles of safety and privacy
  • Building resilience and strategies to alleviate burnout
  • Reinforcing relevant Employee Resource Groups, employee benefits and HR initiatives

Who should take it?

  • Human resources and benefits partners
  • Senior leaders and front-line managers
  • Clinical and wellness staff
  • All employees dedicated to employee engagement, team building and resilience

To bring MHFA training to your organization, please contact mhfa@integralcare.org or (737) 263-3352.
 

Military service has a profound impact on the people involved – the service member and their family members. Many experience post-trau­matic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression and substance use issues. Yet less than half receive any mental health care. Sadly, twenty veterans die by suicide every day in our country. You can make a difference in their lives. This free training focuses on military culture and the specific risk factors faced by service members and their families. You learn a 5-step action plan to help someone showing signs of mental illness, substance use disorder or crisis. Click below to register.

Upon completion of this training, you may register for additional free trainings.

  • Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) – Learn the right questions to ask to identify people of all ages at risk suicide.
  • Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) – Reducing access to lethal means, such as firearms, can save the life of someone at risk of suicide. Learn how to work with veterans, service members and their families on reducing access to lethal means.
  • Safety Planning Intervention (SPI) – Learn how to develop an effective safety plan with veterans, military members, their families and/or caregivers.

 

For any questions, please contact mhfa.vet@integralcare.org.

For more information on hosting an MHFA training or to request special accommodations, please contact mhfa@integralcare.org or call us at (737) 263-3352.

The State of Texas HHSC MHFA grant allows us to offer free MHFA trainings to educators, faculty and staff (K – 12th grades and institutes of higher education).

Testimonials

  • Testimonials MHFA

    “Mental Health First Aid is the brain-health equivalent of learning CPR. It offers valuable lessons that will help us respond better to folks experiencing a mental health crisis. I appreciate the thoughtful and compassionate expertise that the Integral Care professionals brought to the training and would encourage other community organizations to take advantage of this opportunity.”

     

    – Senator Kirk Watson

  • Testimonials MHFA

    “I have used the training a LOT with my youth ministry at church. I had one parent mention that her daughter had been withdrawn. When I talked to her daughter, she seemed to be having thoughts about suicide. Because of the class, I was brave enough to ask those tough question. Are you thinking about hurting yourself? She said yes and, because of the amazing resources shared in the training, I was able to get her and her mom linked to Integral Care.”

     

    – UT School of Nursing Professor

  • Testimonials MHFA

    “It was awesome to learn about the different mental illnesses. Mental Health First Aid gave me great information on how to spot situations where you can intervene and suggest help to someone. The resources were amazing.”

     

    – Travis County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Officer

  • Testimonials MHFA

    “Mental Health First Aid helped me understand facts and dispelled some myths I believed. I feel better equipped to recognize the signs of a mental health issue and how to get someone whatever professional help they may need.”

     

    – Texas Capitol Staffer

  • Testimonials MHFA

    “I recommend this class for everybody. Everybody needs to learn that just because a person is acting a certain way, they’re not trying to act that way toward you. It’s just the way their mental health is or what is happening in their life at that time. My son has ADHD and this has helped me recognize when he might be having anxiety or feeling depressed.”

     

    – City of Austin Employee

  • Testimonials MHFA

    “Mental health disorders have played a big role in my life, affecting several of my friends who I have attempted to help in the past. I took this training to help protect people I love and protect my future patients.”

     

    – UT Nursing Student

  • Testimonials MHFA

    “Having the skills to recognize a mental health need is greatly useful. My goal is to obtain a social workers degree. The Mental Health First Aid Class really inspired me to reach for that goal in my life.”

     

    – Travis County Inmate

St. Davids Foundation
Bluebonnet Trails

St. David’s Foundation has graciously awarded Integral Care a Healthy Minds Grant to expand our general MHFA program for both Adults and Youth. Their generosity allows us to provide even more Travis County residents the tools they need to support someone having a mental health crisis or showing signs of mental illness. Integral Care is also partnering with Bluebonnet Trails Community Services to increase access to this potentially life-saving training in the Williamson County area.

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