05/13/2026
📣Register today to become certified in Adult Mental Health First Aid. Registration is open now for our next training on Saturday, May 23. Link here to register through Atypical Care: https://atypicalcare.org/mental-health-first-aid
Classes also available for June 20 and July 25.
Here are 👋🏼 five things you can do with a Mental Health First Aid Certification:
✨1. Support Those in Need
MHFA gives you the skills and knowledge to help someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use challenge or experiencing a crisis.
As part of your training, you’ll learn the 5-step MHFA Action Plan (ALGEE):
A — Assess for risk of su***de or harm. Try to find a suitable time or place to start the conversation with the person, keeping their privacy and confidentiality in mind. If the person does not want to confide in you, encourage them to talk to someone they trust.
L — Listen nonjudgmentally. At first, many people in distress just want to be heard. Let the person share without interrupting them. Try to empathize with their situation. You can get the conversation started by saying something like, “I noticed [_].” Try to be accepting, even if you don’t agree with what they are saying.
G — Give reassurance and information. After someone has shared their experiences and emotions with you, be ready to offer hope.
E — Encourage appropriate professional help. The earlier someone gets help, the better their chances of recovery. Offer to help this person learn more about the options available to them.
E — Encourage self-help and other support strategies. This includes helping them identify their support network, find programs within the community and create a personalized emotional and physical self-care plan.
✨2. Reduce Stigma
MHFA equips you with the skills to help individuals in challenging situations, and it also enables you to do your part to reduce mental health stigma.
Society often holds negative attitudes and behaviors surrounding mental health. This stigma is the pressure that keeps us from talking about mental health or substance use challenges.
Stigma prevents people from speaking up about mental health, but as a First Aider, you can help normalize the mental health conversation. You’ll have the information and resources to support early intervention for people in need.
Reducing stigma around mental health can start as simply as asking someone how they’re really doing. Taking the first step by encouraging honest and open conversation can make a real difference in people’s lives.
✨3. Be a Mental Health Advocate
First Aiders help make recovery a reality. They believe that mental wellbeing is a state of thriving. It is the foundation of living a strong, healthy and fulfilling life. They believe that mental wellbeing is achievable for everyone — including individuals living with or recovering from a mental health or substance use challenge.
Being a mental health advocate doesn’t just mean having MHFA skills. It means that you are part of a movement to strengthen mental wellbeing for everyone, every day, in small and big ways.
✨4. Build Community
People become First Aiders because they care about helping others — and there are a lot of people who care! Over 4.5 million people across the U.S. have already been certified in MHFA. It’s a movement that depends on community.
✨5. Begin Your Instructor Path
Becoming a First Aider is a huge step toward bolstering mental health in your community. Becoming a MHFA Instructor puts you on a path to making an even bigger impact.
When you teach MHFA, every action can create a ripple effect that makes big waves. By becoming a MHFA Instructor, you can teach your community the same invaluable skills you learned as First Aider.
MHFA Instructors connect people, build knowledge and empathy, and lead by example. But who makes a good Instructor? MHFA Instructors are:
📍Community and religious leaders
Teachers, coaches and school staff
Nurses, emergency responders and hospital staff
📍Social workers and peer support staff
Public service and safety professionals
Military and veterans services professionals
📍Everyday people looking to increase their community impact
