Youth First Aid Mental Health

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is specifically designed for adults who assist youth ages 10-18 years old and is great for parents, school staff, counselors, officers, youth group leaders, 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!

Instructor training teaches someone how to deliver a Mental Health First Aid class in their own community or workplace.

Instructor candidates attend a multiday training which prepares them to facilitate either the Adult or Youth Mental Health First Aid course. Successful accreditation is not guaranteed, instructor candidates must attend the entire training and demonstrate their ability to facilitate a designated section of the course material to national standards.

By becoming a Mental Health First Aid Instructor, you will be qualified to teach this curriculum anywhere in the country. Please confirm the teaching requirements of your grant funding/PI Dr. Ham (nham@bowiestate.edu) to assure compliance.