Upcoming Classes

Classes cost $30 per person; which covers 12-hour instruction, a manual, and snacks. All classes are held at the Bert Nash Center, 200 Maine Street, Lawrence, KS. To sign up for a MHFA class, please email talktobert@bertnash.org

SPRING SCHEDULE:
January Class Dates: Mondays 9, 17(TUESDAY), 23, 30, 4-7 p.m.
February Class Dates: Mondays 6, 13, 20, 27, 4-7 p.m.
March Class Dates: Weekend Class, March 3 & 4, 10:30-5:30, 1-6 p.m.
April Class Dates: Tuesdays 3, 10, 17, 24, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
May Class Dates: Tuesdays 1, 8, 15, 22, 4-7 p.m.

About the Mental Health First Aid Program

What is Mental Health First Aid? (MHFA)
Mental Health First Aid is a 12-hour training course designed to give members of the public key skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it does build mental health literacy — helping the public identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness.

How many days does it take to complete?
The Mental Health First Aid program runs 12 hours. It can be conducted as one two-day seminar, two one day events spaced over a short period of time, or as four 3-hour sessions.

What do MHFA training participants learn?
Just as CPR training helps a layperson with no clinical training assist an individual following a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid training helps a layperson assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis, such as contemplating suicide. In both situations, the goal is to help support an individual until appropriate professional help arrives. Mental Health First Aiders learn a single 5-step strategy that includes assessing risk, respectfully listening to and supporting the individual in crisis, and identifying appropriate professional help and other supports. The goal of Mental Health First Aid is to increase mental health literacy. Participants are also introduced to risk factors and warning signs for mental health or substance use problems, engage in experiential activities that build understanding of the impact of illness on individuals and families; and learn information about evidence-supported treatment and self-help strategies.

What types of crisis interventions are covered?
Trainees are taught how to apply the 5-step strategy in a variety of situations, such as helping someone through a panic attack, engaging with someone who may be suicidal, or assisting an individual who has overdosed. An important component of the Mental Health First Aid training is the opportunity to practice the intervention strategy rather than to just learn about it. This simple experience can make it easier to actually apply the knowledge in a real-life situation.

News about MHFA

NPR's Kelley Weiss covers Mental Health First aid for Morning Edition, for
World Mental Health day, October 10, 2011.

Through his series, “Kansas Health: A Prescription for Change,”
KPR Health Reporter Bryan Thompson focuses on the
Bert Nash MHFA program:

Karrey Brit, health reporter for the Lawrence Journal-World, responds to the class on Wellcommons.