Identify. Understand. Respond.

Mental Health First Aid

Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help. You can learn more about this training here. 

About the Trainings:

There are two courses available- Adult Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid. Each training is 8 hours, which can be completed in a variety of ways. Both courses can be offered either online or in-person. There is a minimum of 5 participants required for group trainings.

• ADULT MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE: Is appropriate for anyone age 18 and older who wants to learn how to help a person who may be experiencing a mental health related crisis or problem. The adult course is available in both English and Spanish. 
• YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE: Is primarily intended for adults age 18 and older to learn how to help young people experiencing mental health challenges or crises. It reviews the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents ages 12-18 and emphasizes the importance of early intervention. 

Cost: Various partner agencies throughout the tri-county area provide this training. Most of the time this training can be provided at low cost, or at no-cost, depending on grant funds available. If you are interested in a training please complete the form by clicking the link below and someone from our team will be in touch. 

What You Learn

• Risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems
• Information on depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, and addiction disorders
• A 5-step action plan to help someone developing a mental health problem or in crisis
• Where to turn for help - professional, peer, and self-help resources

Four Reasons to Become a Mental Health First Aider

• BE PREPARED: When a mental health crisis happens, know what to do
• YOU CAN HELP: People with mental illnesses often suffer alone
• MENTAL ILLNESSES ARE COMMON: 1 in 5 adults in any given year
• YOU CARE: Be there for a friend, family member, or colleague

UPCOMING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

• Friday, August 12, 2022 - 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM; in person at Illinois Central College; cost is $65.00 per person; please register by calling or emailing Kristan Creek at kristan.creek@icc.edu or 309.690.6918
• Wednesday, September 21, 2022 - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM; online, self-paced work followed by in-person instructor-led training at Tazewell County Health Department
• Please use "Request a Training" form to contact our team

Request a Training