Please visit Maroon Mental Health Matters for updated training information. We are not currently offering Mental Health First Aid trainings.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an eight-hour training designed to give participants the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to recognize and respond to the warning signs and symptoms of a mental illness or emotional crisis.
This course is tailored specifically for university cultures to include:
- A discussion of campus culture and its relevance to the topic of mental health
- A discussion of the specific stress and risk factors faced by the higher education population
- Application of the action plan in a number of scenarios designed specifically for faculty, staff, and students
- A review of the mental health resources on campus and through partnerships in the community
Why Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid helps people understand that mental illnesses and addictions are real, common, and treatable, and that it's okay to seek help. Research demonstrates this program's effectiveness in improving knowledge of mental illness and substance use, removing fear and misunderstanding, and enabling those trained to offer concrete assistance. Mental Health First Aid is proven to be effective and is listed in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Registry of Evidence Based Programs and Practices.
How Do I Register for a MHFA Training?
UChicago Student Wellness offers training for staff, faculty, and students. We have no trainings available during the summer. Please stay tuned for programming in the Autumn Quarter.
Each staff/faculty training is scheduled from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Thursdays, and each student training is scheduled from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Please note that you must attend the full six hours of virtual, instructor-led training plus complete a two-hour self-paced online module to be certified.
If you have any questions about this training, please get in touch with Bridget Marley at bmarley@uchicago.edu.