MENTAL HEALTH 1ST AID TRAINING

with Facilitator Alexander Hardy

WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING?

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an interactive training course that presents an overview of mental illnesses and substance use disorders in the U.S. The course introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact, and reviews common treatments. Similar to traditional First Aid and CPR, MHFA is help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a crisis until professional treatment is obtained or the crisis resolves.

Sessions for Adults, Adults working with Youth, and Spanish Mental Health First Aid explore the impact of trauma & culture on wellness and provide a framework to prioritize self-care for First Aiders.

MHFA is an evidence-based public education and prevention tool which improves knowledge of mental health and substance use problems and connects people with care for their mental health or substance use problems. During each instructive period, attendees can expect to participate in educational and engaging activities to learn about mental health problems. The course offers a five-point action plan and easy to follow materials for non-clinicians to identify, understand, and provide initial help to individuals in crisis or showing symptoms of a mental illness or substance use disorder.

The course, developed by the National Council for Behavioral Health, provides a sensitive atmosphere, where participants can feel comfortable to discuss personal and hypothetical situations related to mental health.

Okay, how’s it going down?

The Adult & Youth Mental Health First Aid training is divided into two parts. Because of the Rona, until things become Less Terrible out in the world, all programing will be virtual and take place via Janet Jackson’s Internet. It’s set up as follows:

• A self-paced two-hour virtual course on the Mental Health First Aid framework (ALGEE) via an interactive Learning Management System, and

• A joy-flavored five-hour virtual instructor-led skills application session.

Upon registration, each participant will have access to:

• a Youth or Adult Mental Health First Aid Participant Manual,

• a Mental Health First Aid Participant Processing Guide to debrief and explore themes covered during the training,

• a template for prioritizing First Aider self-care and wellness,

Upon completing the training, participants will receive:

• a customized newsletter-style regional/nationwide/digital wellness resource guide with stories, tools, directories, mobile crisis teams, and other tools to support your community, and

• a three-year Mental Health First Aid certification.

WHO IS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING FOR?

I am able to provide three versions of the Mental Health Aid Training:

• Adult Mental Health First Aid

• Youth Mental Health First Aid (for adults who work/live/interact with adolescents)

• Spanish Mental Health First Aid (coming spring 2020)

The training is appropriate for a wide variety of audiences, and may include:

• Community health workers, tribal health workers, Promotoras/Promotores

• Employers and business leaders

• Law enforcement personnel

• Corrections officers and parole/probation officers

• EMS personnel

• School personnel and educators

• Members of faith communities and their leaders

• Medical providers (e.g., nurses, medical assistants)

• Employees of service-oriented businesses (dry cleaners, barber shops, etc)

• Librarians

• Policymakers

• Volunteers

• Anyone who interacts with people

TRAINING CONTENT

This evidence-based course includes:

• The 8-hour training with two nationally certified instructors,

• 1 full-color MHFA training manual (retailing at ~$20) per participant, worksheets, all necessary teaching materials.

• 1 certificate of completion (good for three years) per participant,

• A local mental/emotional wellness resource guide,

• Access to ongoing support and helpful resources and content via the GetSomeJoy network and wellness hub.

And here is a one-page overview (PDF) of the Mental Health First Aid training.

About your instructor

New York City-based food-lover Alexander Hardy is a writer, mental health advocate, dancer, teacher, lupus survivor, and co-host of The Extraordinary Negroes podcast. He has written for Ebony Magazine, CNN.com, Esquire, Food & Wine, Very Smart Brothas, Gawker, Courvoisier, The Huffington Post, VICE, and Saint Heron, and is a nationally certified Adult, Youth, and SpanishMental Health First Aid instructor. Alexander is a board member of the Center for LGBTQ Studies (CLAGS) at the CUNY Graduate Center and Co-Founder and Creative Director of GetSomeJoy, a creative wellness agency promoting mental and emotional wellness among Black and brown folks. Alexander does not believe in snow or Delaware.

Learn more about Alex at TheAlexanderHardy.com.

The Colored Boy | Mental Health Workety Work | Writing Portfolio

oh, i wrote about teaching this class and such

So I Just Became a Mental Health First Aid Instructor And Here Is What I Learned

So I Just Started Leading Mental Health First Aid Trainings In Spanish

I ALSO WRITE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, LUPUS & joy.

“On depression: to anyone living in a fog” (Gawker)

“Audio Therapy: How Music Improved One Man’s Mental Health” (EBONY)

“Have Your Heaven Now: What Lupus Taught Me About Life” (Very Smart Brothas)

“Supporting a Team Member Through a Personal Crisis” (Unilever Food Solutions/Fair Kitchens)

AND I’VE TAUGHT FOR THESE FOLKS + OTHERS

inquire about a mental health first aid training

Alexander is located in New York, NY, but is available to travel.