YMHFA Instructor Training (No Grant Funding)

Youth MHFA is specifically designed for adults who assist youth ages 10-18 years old and is great for parents, school and after-school program staff, officers, and other community members who work with children and adolescents.

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/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!  

NOTE: This curriculum cannot be taught to anyone under the age of 18.

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. If you are already an instructor, you can consider dual certification to teach both the adult and youth courses. 

Please note that MHFA Instructor Training is valued at $2,200 across the country and is available to Maryland residents at a reduced cost of $1,800. Due to our limited training capacity at MHAMD, we maintain the right to ask candidates to complete training through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, as needed. Please note that there is a cost difference between the two organizations and that MHAMD does not benefit financially by referring candidates to the NCMW.  

Additional details regarding certification and training requirements are available on the Registration page. If you have questions about the curriculum or training program, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. Still have questions? Email MHFATraining@mhamd.org.