ACA, New England Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing that is designed to give you key skills to help an adult who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Whether you’re looking to support a colleague, your camp counselors, family and friends, or other members of your community…this virtual course is for you. This course is offered in a two-part format and both components must be completed to earn your certification: 

• 2 hours of virtual self-paced pre-work must be completed by Monday, January 6 (the instructor must verify completion for you to be eligible to join the live portion of the course) 

• Live, instructor-led virtual course from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm on Thursday, January 9 (You must be fully present with the ability to have a camera and microphone on throughout the course. There will be a lunch break built into the schedule.) 

What will participants learn? MHFA Certification teaches participants to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance abuse challenges among adults. You will learn: common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges; how to interact with a person in crisis how to connect a person with help and resources; ways to support a person thinking about suicide. Participants do not learn to diagnose, nor how to provide any therapy or counseling – rather, participants learn to support an individual developing signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in an emotional crisis by applying a core five-step action plan. 

Who should take this course? The course is designed for anyone 18-years of age or older who would like to add to their toolbox for supporting folks with mental health concerns. This would be great for camp leaders to provide support to their adult staff members. This is a standalone certification, but if you’re already certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid, this complements that as well. 

Space is limited to 15 participants, so register early!  

Registrations are non-refundable but may be transferred to another eligible individual no later than January 2 (to ensure enough time to complete the pre-work).