Mental Health First Aid

What is MHFA?

Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.

Mental Health First Aid takes the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems by improving understanding and providing an action plan that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and help someone who is in crisis, has mental illness or a substance use disorder. When more people are equipped with the tools they need to start a dialogue, more people can get the help they need.

Learn more about MHFA

WNE commitment to MHFA

WNE is committed to the mental health and well-being of our community. We are developing a sustainable program to support our community by creating and establishing a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program on campus.

We need you!

Become 1 of 16 MHFA instructors on campus! As an inaugural instructor, you will help build and sustain MHFA in the WNE community.

Benefits of becoming a certified instructor:

• Connect and bring our WNE community together
• Advocate for mental health and wellbeing
• Reduce negative attitudes about mental illnesses
• Educate our community and build mental health literacy
• Be a mental health ambassador on campus
• Lead and show others how they can help

What is the commitment as an instructor of MHFA?

WNE is making a substantial investment in each instructor's training (approximately $2,000 per instructor). We are trying to build a financially sustainable program and are seeking volunteer instructors who plan to remain a part of the WNE community for the foreseeable future. It is our hope that instructors will be able to make a 3-year commitment to teaching at least 3 courses in the first year and 5 or more courses in subsequent years.

There is no stipend associated with being a MHFA instructor on campus. Your commitment to this program is recognized as service to the University. Listed below is the time commitment to become a MHFA instructor:

• Pre-Training Work: 2 hours of pre-work to be completed before Day 1 of the certification course
• Certification Training: Course will be taught on January 9, 10, and 11, 2023
  • Three 8-hour days (8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) of live instruction for the certification course
• Post Training Work: 1-2 hours of post work to be completed after the certification course
• Year 1: Teach a minimum of 3 courses (approximately 2 hours of prep and 1 hour of instruction) = ~ 9 hours
• Subsequent years: Teach a minimum of 5 courses = ~ 15 hours