Adult Mental Health First Aid USA Certification - Online Classroom

9:00am-4:00pm PST via Zoom Meeting
Meeting link will be sent to registered attendees the day of the session.

CONTENT WARNING: SUBSTANCE USE

PLEASE NOTE: THIS COURSE IS NOT INTENDED FOR WHEN WORKING WITH YOUTH. THE COURSE REQUIRES TWO HOURS OF SELF-GUIDED PRE-WORK AND SEVEN HOURS OF ONLINE INSTRUCTOR-LED SESSION ON A SATURDAY (INCLUDES BREAKS). 

OVERVIEW

Do you want to help those in your community with mental health and substance use challenges, but have no idea how to start? Join us for an in-depth training to build the skills and confidence you need to reach out to adults who are struggling. You’ll also learn how to help connect them to appropriate support. 

This course teaches the signs and symptoms of common mental health and substance use issues, and how to begin a non-judgmental conversation about them, from early intervention through crisis situations. The content also covers the gamut of professionals one can encourage, and the importance of self-care for both those we are trying to help, and for those providing help. The tools learned can be applied not only to situations while leading groups of people outdoors, but also at work or home, with friends, or with strangers.

Adult Mental Health First Aid USA Certification course is not intended to replace professional therapy or medical treatment. This course aims to provide individual students with the skills they need to provide initial support to an individual in mental health distress until appropriate professional help arrives. This course isn't meant as a one-stop solution for helping someone in distress with their mental health.

COURSE DETAILS

Content is research and evidence-based, created by Mental Health First Aid Australia and then adapted for Mental Health First Aid USA in partnership with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Certification is valid for three years. More information is on the MentalHealthFirstAid.org website. Information Deck to use for this course.

This course is valued at $170. The course is free for Mountaineers members due to sponsorship by The Mountaineers. Guests may attend for $150.

REQUIRED PRE-WORK

This interactive certification course will take place online. There is self-guided pre-work that takes approximately two hours to complete. The pre-work is required to attend the Zoom sessions. The instructor-led portions will consist of short presentations, but mostly of activities (group and individual), discussions, videos, and scenarios. Participation is highly encouraged, but not required. It is a “challenge by choice” style. This is not therapy, nor training to become a therapist.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After the course, volunteers will be able to:

• Recognize common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges.
• Recognize common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges.
• Understand how to interact with a person in crisis.
• Know how to connect a person with help.
• Use self-care tools and techniques.
• Additional learning outcomes can be found at:  https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/take-a-course/what-you-learn/

PRESENTER

Natasha Buffo is a former business analyst for Google, turned outdoor adventurer, community mental health facilitator, and creative non-fiction writer. She’s been a Certified Adult Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) for over eight years. Since becoming an MFHA Instructor in 2021, she’s taught 30+ classes and certified more than 300 participants, from guides of Adventures in Good Company to teachers who take youth on a yearly backpacking trip to supervisors for Kirkwood Mountain Resort, and many more. When not at her desk, you’ll find her trail running with her puppy, backpacking the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, or cycle touring across states. Her written work has been published by Recreation.gov, ArborTIMES, TahoeQuarterly, The Link, and many more. Follow her on Instagram @dirtandtears or check out her website www.dirtandtears.com.