Registration Information Faculty Biographies Continuing Education Instructor Training

Identify. Understand. Respond.

Approximately 1 in 5 Americans experience a mental health or addiction disorder each year. The World Health Organization estimates that 15% of adults aged 60 and older have a mental disorder. The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course is an internationally acclaimed and evidence-based, accredited training program that empowers and equips caregivers, employers, and families with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to support a resident, family member or co-worker experiencing a mental health or substance abuse problem or experiencing a crisis such as being suicidal.

Mental Health First Aid will help with early detection of mental health needs and build capacity of staff to respond and manage those needs including how to communicate effectively with those who need help, how to discern the difference between talking about death and suicidal ideation, and the difference between psychosis, dementia, and delirium. It will also help enhance care related to past trauma, better equipping staff to respond to the trauma informed care requirements in the requirements of participation. Additionally, MHFA will better equip staff to identify issues and provide specialized services enhancing the quality of care delivered and intended by the PASRR requirements.

Participants will learn a 5-step ALGEE action plan that can be used to help those in need:

• Assess for risk of suicide or harm
• Listen non-judgmentally
• Give reassurance and information
• Encourage appropriate professional help
• Encourage self-help and other support strategies

Participants will learn how to apply the action plan in a variety of situations including when someone is experiencing panic attacks, suicidal thoughts or behaviors, non-suicidal self-injury, acute psychosis, overdose or withdrawal from alcohol or drugs, and reaction to a traumatic event. The training includes opportunities to practice which makes it easier to apply these skills in real-life situations.

Who Should Attend
Long-term care staff including administrators, nurses, social workers, CNAs, activities personnel, clergy/chaplains, and others who have the capacity to become a mental health first aider and engage with residents and other team members. The CMP grant covers training costs for SNF/NF staff only.

Individuals should sign up for ONLY one (1) cohort. Group registration is not available because each registration must have individual names and email addresses to receive the pre-work and certification. There is no limit to the number of individuals that a LTC community can have participate in this training.  Registration deadline is one week prior to each cohort.

Calendar of Events
Training Dates: Participants should only register for one cohort. First-come, first-served. Seats are limited. Dates and locations for all trainings included in the grant are listed below.

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