Are you interested in being able to assist someone experiencing a mental health related crisis or non-crisis situation and where to turn for help?

Before you can know how to help, you need to know when to help.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognized program designed to build mental health literacy within our communities — or a basic understanding of what different mental health illnesses and addictions are, how they can affect a person’s daily life, and what helps individuals experiencing these challenges get well.

You will learn about: 

·  Depression and mood disorders
·  Anxiety disorders
·  Trauma
·  Psychosis
·  Substance Use disorders
·  How to help someone who may be experiencing thoughts of suicide or harm

Mental Health First Aid teaches about recovery and resiliency — the belief that individuals experiencing these challenges can and do get better, and use their strengths to stay well.

Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack — even with no clinical training — becoming a Mental Health First Aider will train you to provide initial help to people experiencing mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis, and substance use disorders as well as how to help someone who may be experiencing thoughts of harm or suicide.

This 9-hour training is FREE to Shoreline Community College employees and students and will be offered in two (2) – 4.5-hour sessions:

Friday, October 6 AND Friday, October 13 from 11:30 am – 4:00 pm (Bring your lunch – an afternoon snack will be provided).

You MUST attend BOTH training sessions to receive a MHFA handbook and become a certified Mental Health First Aider.

Please email Sheryl Copeland at scopeland@shoreline.edu to register and/or find out more information. Once registered, details as far as room location, etc. will be shared.

MHFA website: http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/cs/

Be well!!  – Sheryl Copeland and Gwyn Hoffman-Robinson (training facilitators)