The Bert Nash Center offers a variety of Mental Health First Aid courses. These courses are designed to help people develop the skills they need to help someone who is experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. These courses include classes focused on helping Adults and Youth, as well as classes for specific groups, like people working in Higher Education or with Older Adults.
In all MHFA classes, participants learn the Mental Health First Aid Action Plan, also called ALGEE. This five-part framework can be used a variety of situations – from supporting someone through a panic attack or a suicidal crisis to knowing how to be a nonjudgmental listening ear for someone that is having a difficult time. All MHFA classes combine a variety of learning techniques and practical application so as to reach adult learners with a variety of learning styles.
This course may be eligible for continuing education credits – participants should let the instructor know if they would like information about obtaining continuing education credits.
Virtual Mental Health First Aid
Each class consists of a self-paced online introduction and an instructor-led session. The two-hour self-paced online introduction must be completed prior to the instructor-led session, and is a requirement to participation in the instructor-led session. The instructor-led sessions are held over zoom with groups of 5 – 20 participants. When you register for a public, virtual class, you are registering for the instructor-led session. Once registered, we will connect you to the self-paced online introduction. Accordingly, we ask that you register for your instructor-led session at least seven days prior to the date selected so we have enough time to connect you to the online portion, and you have enough time to finish it!
Virtual MHFA classes are limited to 20 participants. Classes are filled on a first-registered, first-enrolled basis, which means that you could receive a notice that the class you signed up for is full. We will do our best to keep our available options up to date, but our software doesn’t automatically cap enrollment at this time.
Public Mental Health First Aid
Cost: $30 per person
Duration: 2-hour self-paced introduction and 6-hour instructor-led session
Materials: Electronic Manual
For effective learning, the class must have five people minimum, 20 people maximum (for virtual classes) or 30 people maximum (for in-person classes). Classes may be cancelled due to low enrollment.
To sign up for a MHFA class, please use the registration form below.
Private Mental Health First Aid Course
We would love to bring Mental Health First Aid to you! We are able to organize private classes in a variety of formats, including virtual classes and entirely in-person options as well. The class costs $30/person and includes the provision of a manual. For classes taking place outside of Douglas County, Kansas, organizations will be assessed a small training fee in addition to the cost per student.
To find out more information and arrange a class, please contact Julia Gaughan, Prevention & Education Manager, at mhfa@bertnash.org or 785-830-1723.
