What is Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a course that teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to the signs of mental health or substance use issues. The training provides the skills needed to provide initial help and support someone who may be developing a mental or behavioral health problem or experiencing a crisis.
Explore the Three Mental Health First Aid Courses
- Adult MHFA – This courses teaches adults, age 18 or older, how to recognize and support other adults who experience mental health or substance use concerns.
- Youth MHFA – This course teaches adults, age 18 or older, how to recognize and support children and youth who experience mental health or substance use concerns.
- teen MHFA – This course teaches students in 10th – 12th grade how to recognize and support other teens who experience mental health or substance use concerns.
How Do We Access MHFA Training?
Public school employees and employees of public and private higher education institutions can receive MHFA training for free through their Local Mental Health Authority or Local Behavioral Health Authority. Many Education Service Centers also offer training in MHFA.
Find training through a Local Mental Health Authority.
Read more about the history of MHFA in Texas.
Research has shown that individuals trained in MHFA:
- Increase their knowledge of the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of mental illnesses and substance use disorders;
- Can identify identify multiple types of professional and self-help resources for individuals with a mental health or substance use challenge.
- Increase their confidence in and likelihood to help an individual in distress.
- Show increased mental wellness themselves.
Read a summary of the research on MHFA (external).
