Mental Health First Aid Training

Did you know you are more likely to meet a person in an emotional or mental crisis than someone having a heart attack? Mental Health First Aid teaches and prepares you for how to help people in those situations who may be experiencing a mental health-related crisis or problem.

By training to be a certified Mental Health First Aider, you can help those persons with a mental health crisis and emotional distress by identifying, understanding and responding to situations until appropriate professional support arrives. Training is open to a wide range of audiences including health and human services providers, social workers, business leaders and employers, college and university staff, faith community leaders, law enforcement, public safety officials and the general public. With specialized curriculum, based on age, youth courses are designed for adults to assist adolescents (ages 12 to 18) and adult courses are designed to help other adults (ages 18+) with mental health crises.

Led by a certified instructor, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an in-person, eight-hour course to build a basic understanding of what different mental illnesses are, how they can affect a person’s daily life and what helps these individuals get well. You will gain knowledge of depression and mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, psychosis, substance use disorders and how recovery and accessible resources help with those certain life challenges. After you have concluded the course, you can apply the Mental Health First Aid action plan based on a five-step strategy:

• Assessment for risk of suicide or harm
• Respectfully listening with no judgment
• Give reassurance and information
• Encourages appropriate professional help
• Inspires self-help and other support strategies

Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to role-play and practice these skills in a simulated real-life situation that could potentially save someone’s life.

For more information about Mental Health First Aid, email BayCareEAP@baycare.org or call (800) 878-5470. 

For more information about our Behavioral Health Services please contact our contact center at 866-762-1743 we are available Monday thru Friday 8am to 5pm.

Learn More About Behavioral Health Services at BayCare

BayCare is proud to offer a wide variety of behavioral health programs and services to patients throughout the Tampa Bay area community, including Tampa, Clearwater, Winter Haven, St. Petersburg, Lutz, Dunedin, Plant City, and the surrounding areas. Tell us more about your particular issue so that we can provide you with a response tailored to your unique situation. Physicians can also refer patients to BayCare in complete confidence.