Mental Health First Aid Instructor Training

PLEASE READ ALL INTRODUCTORY MATERIALS BEFORE REGISTERING.

Adult MHFA is specifically designed for adults assisting other adults and is a great supplemental training for public service personnel, human resources, behavioral health, coaches, other direct service-related positions, and anyone interested in expanding mental health education to the greater Maryland community.

This international public awareness curriculum works to destigmatize conversations around mental health while providing a tangible action plan for adults to address crisis and non-crisis mental health situations – much like CPR and First Aid supports physical health situations. MHFA is proven to increase the likelihood of bystander ‘helping’ behaviors, but also increases the learners own mental health literacy. Win-win!

Instructor training is a train-the-trainer model, teaching candidates how to deliver a Mental Health First Aid class in their own community or workplace. By becoming a Mental Health First Aid Instructor, you will be qualified to teach this curriculum anywhere in the country. Instructors are being trained to conduct classes independently throughout their communities.

The training teaches you how to:

• Teach the Mental Health First Aid course, including the 5-step ALGEE Action Plan, evidence-supported treatment and self-help strategies and prevalence data.
• Apply the MHFA Instructional Guiding Principles.
• Utilize MHFA technology, Explain MHFA curriculum concepts.
• Facilitate MHFA curriculum to fidelity.
• Explain MHFA Instructor policies and processes.

Day 1: Mental Health First Aid Training

Participants receive an electronic Mental Health First Aid manual and Mental Health First Aid Certification for 3 years upon completion of course requirements.

This is a virtual class that requires:

• 2-hours of online, self-paced prework to be completed before class. Emails with prework information will arrive approximately two weeks before the date of the class.
• 6-hours of live, virtual instruction over Zoom from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Virtual participants must have a working camera and microphone and are required be on camera during the entire class (except during breaks).

Day 2-4: Instructor Training

• Courses run from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day.
• Participants will complete approximately 2-3 hours of self-paced pre-work before the first day of in-person or virtual training.
• Each Instructor candidate must attend the entire training and teach an assigned portion of the 8-hour course to the group.
• Each Instructor candidate will provide a peer review for their colleagues.
• National Trainers will conduct an individual evaluation of and provide feedback to each candidate.
• Participants will complete approximately 1 hour of post-work after the 3-day in-person or virtual training. Only after all post-work has been completed will the candidate receive full instructor certification and a certificate. Certified Instructors can teach both Blended and In-person MHFA courses.
• Before you teach your first class, expect to spend up to 40 hours over 90 days in additional self-paced, independent study where you will learn the content, learn the systems (MHFA Connect, Submit-a-Course, MHFA Connect Storefront) and practice your new skills!

Certification is not guaranteed for all participants. To become certified, participants must complete all online course work, be present for the entire training, satisfactorily deliver the presentation and pass an exam.

Dual Certification in the Adult and Youth Curriculum

To become dual certified as an Adult and Youth MHFA Instructor you must hold an active First Aider certification in both curricula and complete both your Adult and Youth Instructor training certification, separately.