Mental Health First Aid for Adults

What is Mental Health First Aid?

Mental Health First Aid is a program that teaches participants to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives individuals the skills they need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.

Most adults would know how to help if they saw someone having a heart attack—they would start CPR, or at the very least, call 9-1-1. But too few would know how to respond if they saw someone having a panic attack or if they were concerned that a friend or co-worker might be showing signs of substance use problems.

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 to the help they may need. Mental Health First Aiders can save lives.