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Get Certified in Mental Health First Aid

presented by the Carrier Clinic

Learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help. 

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 911. 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. When more people are equipped with the tools they need to start a dialogue, more people can get the help they need. Mental Health First Aiders can save the lives of their friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors.

Mental Health First Aiders learn a single 5-step action plan known as ALGEE, which includes assessing risk, respectfully listening to and supporting the individual in crisis, and identifying appropriate professional help and other support. Participants are also introduced to risk factors and warning signs for mental health or substance use problems, engage in experiential activities that build understanding of the impact of illness on individuals and families, and learn about evidence-supported treatment and self-help strategies. Topics covered include depression and mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, psychosis and substance use disorders. Trainees are taught how to apply the 5-step action plan in a variety of situations such as helping someone through a panic attack, engaging with someone who may be suicidal, or assisting an individual who has overdosed. An important component of the Mental Health First Aid course is the opportunity to practice the intervention strategy rather than to just learn about it. This simple experience can make it easier to actually apply the knowledge in a real-life situation.

After the course, you will be able to:

• Recognize common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges
• Recognize common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges
• Understand how to interact with a person in crisis
• Know how to connect a person with help
• Use self-care tools and techniques

This five-hour course is completely free, and upon completion you will receive a certificate you can mention on your resume/etc. The course is appropriate for any adult, and can be useful for professional development especially for those in "helping professions" who deal with the public. Join the more than 2.6 million First Aiders who have chosen to be the difference in their community. For more information, visit MHFA.org. 

Registration is required and class size is limited. A link to the virtual meeting will be sent to you prior to the class (it will not be in the confirmation/reminder emails, it will come separately and close to the meeting date). If you do not receive the email by the day before the class, please call the library for assistance.