Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Essentials provides the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for participants to recognize changes in mental health, respond supportively, and apply practical actions for declining mental health and crisis situations. It helps participants build confidence, reduce stigma, and enhance their own mental health.
Participants must fully complete all the modules in the same delivery format with the same group/cohort. The course modules are delivered in sequential order, as each module builds on learning from the previous module.
Course Objectives
Increase your awareness of mental health
- Distinguish between mental health, mental illness, and mental health conditions.
- Recognize indicators of mental health across the continuum (optimal, declining, poor).
- Improve their confidence to provide help
- Apply the ALGES framework in scenarios of declining mental health and crisis.
- Demonstrate empathy and effective listening skills in supportive interactions.
- Communicate non-judgmentally using verbal and non-verbal skills.
- Provide reassurance and appropriate information in supportive conversations.
- Explain recovery-oriented approaches to providing support.
Decrease mental health-related stigma
- Recognize stigmatizing language and practice respectful alternatives.
- Reflect on personal attitudes and biases that contribute to stigma.
- Understand risks and limitations associated with diagnostic labeling.
Enhance your mental health
- Identify personal self-care strategies using the Three Pillars of Self-Care: reflective, purposeful, and boundaries.
- Recognize when self-care is needed as a Mental Health First Aiders and how to integrate it into daily life.
- Commit to intentional self-care actions to maintain personal well-being as a Mental Health First Aider.