Mental Health First Aid

Overview

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a groundbreaking public education program that helps the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. Mental Health First Aid USA is managed, operated, and disseminated by three national authorities — the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health. To read more about Mental Health First Aid, please visit: http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org

MHFA is an 8-hour instructional course. Upon completion of the course, participants will be Mental Health First Aid Certificated. A one-hour lunch break is provided (lunch on own), as well as two 15-minute breaks. Training runs from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All instruction hours must be attended to become MHFA Certificated. A course outline is provided below.

In our area, the training is supported by Tulare County's Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) - Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Plan - Serious Mental Illness (SMI) Program. A fee is not being charged at this time for participation.

 

To Participate

Select one of the dates listed below and click on the link. Please complete the registration form for that session. You will not receive an automatic email after registering. Registrations are reviewed periodically, and each registrant will receive a confirmation email once the registrations are reviewed.

 

Upcoming Sessions and Registration

 

Note: Click on a date to go to that session's information and registration page. "$" indicates a fee is required for that session.

 

2020

A Message from Tulare County Suicide Prevention Task Force:

Good day. We have decided to cancel all currently scheduled training as a public health safety precaution. We believe that it is our core duty to help protect vulnerable populations and this action will help protect members of our community who are medically fragile. This action also helps us to redirect our resources to emergent needs.

We do encourage you to remember and engage in self-care which can include watching a favorite comedy, meditating, listen to relaxing music, take a hot bath or shower, take a nap, and similar activities. Taking care of ourselves is the first step in effectively caring for others.

We hope you understand and support our decision and that you'll join us for training in the future.

Sincerely,

Noah J. Whitaker
Tulare County SPTF Director

Canceled Sessions

Open Session - April 16 @ College of the Sequoias

 

 

Course Outline (8-hour course agenda):

SESSION 1

Part 1

  • What is Mental Health First Aid?
  • Mental Health Problems in the USA
  • The Mental Health First Aid Action Plan

Part 2

  • Understanding Depression
  • Crisis First Aid for Suicidal Behavior & Depressive Symptoms

 

SESSION 2

Part 1

  • What is Non-Suicidal Self-Injury?
  • Understanding Anxiety Disorders
  • Crisis First Aid for Panic Attacks

Part 2

  • Crisis First Aid for Traumatic events
  • Crisis First Aid for Acute Stress Reaction

 

SESSION 3

Part 1

  • Understanding Psychotic Disorders
  • Crisis First Aid for Acute Psychosis, Aggressive Behavior, and Psychotic Symptoms

Part 2

  • Understanding Substance Use Disorder
  • Crisis First Aid for Overdose
  • Crisis First Aid for Withdrawal

 

SESSION 4

Part 1

  • Understanding Eating Disorders
  • Crisis First Aid for Eating Disorders

Part 2

  • Using Mental Health First Aid

 

Questions

Please call Noah Whitaker at (559) 624-7471 or send an email by Clicking Here.

 

Completed Sessions

 

2012 (2): Oct 22 & 23; Dec 6 & 7

2013 (10): Feb 6 & 7; Mar01 & 08 at Milan Institute; Mar 28 & 29 in Hanford; Apr 25 & 26 in Visalia; June 10 & 11 in Visalia, July 8 & 9 in Hanford, July 23 & 24 in Hanford, Oct 22 & 23, Dec 9, Dec 16

2014 (5): Feb 25, Apr 10, June 16, Oct 23, Dec 8

2015 (4): Mar 23, May 7, Oct 14, Nov 17 (CWS)

2016 (5): Jan 25, Jan 28 (Tule River Tribe), May 9, Aug 9 (CSET), Dec 12 (Visalia Independent Charter)

2017 (4): May 10, July 25, Dec 14 in Three Rivers, Dec 21 in Tule River,

2018 (6): Mar 3 in Dinuba, March 26 at Tulare County Office of Education, Apr 3 at Sequoia National Park, May 1 at Government Plaza, June 4 at Gov Plaza, July 9 at West Hills Community College, Nov 6 at Visalia Gov Plaza, Nov 7 at Visalia Gov Plaza

2019 (3): Mar 6 at Farmersville Training Center, Nov. 21 at Clubhouse Visalia, Dec. 12 at TCOE Administrative Building

2020: Special Session - Feb. 10 @ International Agri-Center