Identify, assess, and appropriately respond to vulnerable individuals demonstrating the warning signs of a mental health emergency with Mental Health Awareness Training.
This free training is designed to help you apply potentially lifesaving, evidence-based mental health first aid as a first responder, employer, educator, or caring community member. You will learn to recognize the signs of mental health emergencies and respond compassionately with proven, scientifically supported acute interventions that can help individuals access local long-term treatment services. This training aims to bring empathy, safety, and recovery to those you encounter in your daily life who are struggling with their mental health.
About this Training
This course teaches participants evidence-based Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) techniques to understand better and safely respond to individuals with acute mental health challenges. It also covers reducing suicide risk using the established Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) method.
Target Audience
Those who can benefit from this training include:
- Employers
- Police officers
- First responders
- Schools
- Colleges
- Primary care providers
- Social service providers
- Faith-based organizations
- Nursing homes
- Caring individuals
- Parents
- Anyone and everyone!
Training Details
The Mental Health Awareness Training consists of two evidence-based certifications:
Mental Health First Aid |MHFA
- Teaches how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges
Question, Persuade, Refer |QPR
- Teaches how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help
It is also currently offered in two versions:
Adult –
- Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges.
- Common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges.
- How to interact with a person in crisis.
- How to connect a person with help.
- Expanded content on trauma, substance use, and self-care.
Youth (ages 12-18) –
- Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges in this age group, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).
- Common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges.
- How to interact with a child or adolescent in crisis.
- How to connect the youth with help.
- Expanded content on trauma, substance use, self-care, and the impact of social media and bullying.
Both versions include a comprehensive overview of current, evidence-based models of MHFA and QPR and practical information on obtaining local services. This program’s unique adaptability allows it to be tailored to address the needs of various demographics, including Public Safety, Military, Veterans and their Families, Older Adults, and Fire and EMS.
Both the Adult and Youth training programs are also available in several different training delivery formats, including:
- 8 hour in-person instruction option
- a blended option; which is 2 hours of online self-paced prework and then 5.5 hours of in-person instruction and
- an option that is two consecutive days of 4-hour instruction.
This training is made possible by a Mental Health Awareness Training Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Registration and Contact
To secure your training date, please use the link below to access and scan the QR code. If you have any inquiries, you can contact Erin Quinn at equinn@ehsny.org or 716-560-1452.
