MHFA is an 8-hour training that teaches how to help individuals who may be experiencing a mental health problem or crisis. The training helps adults identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness or substance abuse.

Those who complete the training learn:

  • Risk factors, warning signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use disorders
  • Information on depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis and addiction disorders
  • A five-step action plan for helping an individual who is experiencing a mental health problem or crisis

Both Youth and Adult MHFA trainings are available for free in English and Spanish in Rice County thanks to a Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) grant through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This is a savings of upwards of $170 per person!

A minimum of five participants is required to run a training. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) may be available; please contact your licensing organization to see if Youth or Adult MHFA qualifies for CEUs.

To schedule a training for your staff, volunteers or clients, contact mhfa@healthycommunityinitiative.org.
For more information about Mental Health First Aid, visit: www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org

Ingrid Streitz, MHFA Instructor, EMT

“I took the Mental Health First Aid Instructor Course because I am passionate about mental health education and am very excited to be a part of making MHFA training more accessible to all communities.”

Derek Kruse, Director of Public Safety, St. Olaf College, MHFA Instructor

“Colleges are seeing a significant increase in students entering with mental health concerns. This course will be vital to our officers’ ability to respond with understanding and compassion to our students’ needs.”

Katelyn Plendl, M.S., Clinical Program Therapist, Faribault State Prison, Mental Health First Aider

“I became a Mental Health First Aider to be able to support and offer the training to the incarcerated population, as well as the staff that interact with them daily.”

Victoria Menge, Social Work Student, St. Olaf College, Adult Mental Health First Aider

“MHFA training made me feel more competent and confident in supporting my loved ones and future clients facing mental health struggles.”

Blake Kane, Head Girls Soccer Coach, Northfield High School, Mental Health First Aider

“The most valuable part of being a coach of adolescent players is the opportunity to serve as an advocate for them. Completing the Youth Mental Health First Aid training was a critical step for me to better recognize crisis and non-crisis situations and provide a safe space for anyone struggling.”

Izzy Hessian (she/hers), Youth Mental Health First Aider, Northfield Area Family YMCA, Promise Fellow - Minnesota Alliance with Youth

“I loved the course! I greatly appreciate having Mental Health First Aid tools at my disposal for use with the youth I work with at the YMCA.”

Megan Thomas,
Adult Services Manager, Rice County Social Services, MHFA Instructor

“I have worked with various individuals with dual-diagnosis over the last 26 years. I have seen the changes in Mental Health evolve into where we are today. I chose to become a certified MHFA trainer because I believe that we all can play a vital role in our current mental health crisis. This is just one way that I have chosen to play a part.”

Zoe Davis, Assistant Director of Career Development and Coaching, Mental Health First Aider

“In my role at St. Olaf College, I regularly meet 1:1 with students to talk about majors and careers. Topics can be tactical, like how to gain experience or prepare for opportunities. However, deeper conversations often blossom from these topics, centering around the student’s wants and needs, or uncertainty about the future. Now that I have completed Mental Health First Aid training, I feel more equipped to support students during conversations that might bring up big feelings or uncover underlying barriers.”

Jennifer Williams Toth, LSW, Youth Advocate, Community Action Center of Northfield, Mental Health First Aider

“I value trainings that provide me with useful tools and knowledge to use while working with youth, and Mental Health First Aid did just that.”

Pamela Thompson, Northfield News Associate Editor, Mental Health First Aider

“As reporter, photographer, and editor of the local newspaper, I wanted to take the mental health first aid training course to be able to understand the depth and breadth of the situation from as many angles as possible in order to be educated enough to write stories about people in crisis and the help they receive.”

Josh Ramaker, Rice County SHIP Coordinator, Mental Health First Aid Instructor

“I want to partner with schools, workplaces, healthcare, and the community to help change how we think and talk about risk factors and warning signs for mental and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.”

Jessica Saari, Recovery Corps Navigator, Mental Health First Aider

“I took the course for personal and professional experience. Mental health ties into so many things in life, especially recovery. It helped me to prepare for when situations arise in our community and gain a better understanding for others that I will encounter.  I feel like everyone should be educated on mental health and help raise awareness and reduce stigma.”