Media Contact 
Irene Tung 
IreneT@TheNationalCouncil.org 
771-215-5853 

Washington, D.C. (May 5, 2025) — In a ceremony held at the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Summit in Philadelphia on May 4, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing recognized the Mental Health Association in New York State, Erborian, the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, and five MHFA Instructors and Coordinators for their significant contributions to expanding MHFA’s reach and empowering people across the country to support each other in times of need.   

The annual MHFA Impact Awards — Organization of the Year, Partner of the Year, Excellence Award, Instructors of the Year and Coordinator of the Year — celebrate individuals and groups that have demonstrated what it means to be a true leader in changing the conversation surrounding mental health. The primary criteria used to determine the MHFA Impact Award winners include the number of individuals trained in MHFA, measurable impact, and excellence and effectiveness while conducting the training course.

“We are recognizing the 2025 Impact Award winners for their transformative work in bringing Mental Health First Aid training to members of their local communities,” said MHFA Vice President Tramaine EL-Amin. “The National Council is grateful for the support of the Mental Health Association in New York State, Erborian and the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council. Together, we are committed to reshaping the narrative around mental wellbeing and emphasizing the importance of assisting each other in times of need through MHFA.”

The 2025 Impact Award honorees are:  

Organization of the Year

This award recognizes a group that has implemented creative solutions to expand MHFA within its organization and externally. 

• The Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS), a 501(c)(3), is a leading statewide nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of individuals, families, and communities by raising mental health awareness and literacy, ending stigma and discrimination, and promoting wellness and recovery. Since 2010, MHANYS has been a leader in MHFA training, equipping individuals with the skills to recognize and respond to mental health crises. MHANYS has certified over 10,000 Mental Health First Aiders, strengthening community-wide support and literacy for mental well-being. MHANYS leadership and advocacy efforts have been a driving force in the enactment of the most fundamental and precedent-setting laws and regulations in New York State. This includes policies to enhance access to care, require parity with physical health, dedicate support for anti-stigma efforts, and increase mental health literacy among all sectors of the community. It also includes funding to support community-based programs and services for adults, students, first responders, and the workforce. Through its comprehensive programs and partnerships, MHANYS is working to advance mental health awareness and spearhead lasting change that will provide members of the community with the knowledge, skills, and tools to foster and maintain wellness and recovery.  

Partner of the Year

This award is given to a National Council strategic partner that has been a champion of MHFA and supported the program’s growth. 

• Erborian is a pioneering Korean skincare brand known for its innovative hybrid skincare-makeup products that aim to boost both your skin and self esteem. Through its Erborian Self-Esteem Club commitments program, the brand is working on a mission to advocate and take concrete measures for causes closely linked to self-esteem: mental health, cyberbullying and professional reintegration. As part of this initiative, Erborian hosted a special event where employees and influencers were trained in Adult MHFA, walking away with practical skills and a commitment to building compassionate spaces. Internationally, Erborian’s French division partners with PSSM France, the French branch of MHFA. All team members across the U.S., France and Switzerland have completed the training and are certified in MHFA. The National Council is also the recipient of a recent grant from Erborian, which will go toward breaking down stigmas surrounding mental health and fostering a culture of understanding and support.

Excellence Award

This award, in its second year, celebrates an organization that has delivered MHFA training with excellence — from strategy and outreach to implementation.  

• The Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council (CBHC) works on behalf of its members to ensure all Colorado communities have access to comprehensive, community-based behavioral health services. In 2010, CBHC partnered with the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health to establish the infrastructure and support necessary to scale Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) statewide. Through its program Mental Health First Aid Colorado (MHFACO), CBHC provides strategic leadership, operational support, and statewide coordination to expand Adult, Youth, and Teen MHFA programs. MHFACO’s network of trained instructors empowers Coloradans with the skills to recognize and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges, helping build more informed, compassionate, and resilient communities.

MHFA Instructors and Coordinator of the Year

“As the number of people facing mental health and substance use challenges continues to grow, it is more important than ever before to equip communities with the skills to recognize and respond to the signs and symptoms that indicate someone may need help,” said EL-Amin. “MHFA Instructors and Coordinators are key to spreading this vital and practical training across the country and are at the forefront of making mental wellbeing a reality for everyone, everywhere.”

• Adult Mental Health First Aid: Layla Bluefort, MSW, is a dedicated MHFA Instructor, CPR/first aid trainer and social worker committed to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. With 10 years of experience as a MHFA Instructor, Bluefort has trained thousands of adults to recognize and respond to mental health challenges in their communities. She is also passionate about supporting women going through perimenopause and menopause, and has dedicated herself to ensuring women, their families and workplaces have the tools to navigate this stage with understanding, support and mental health awareness, including tools such as MHFA.
• Youth Mental Health First Aid: Trina Lueckhoff has been a certified MHFA Instructor at Endeavor Health Linden Oaks Hospital since 2016, specializing in Adult, Youth and teen MHFA. In addition to teaching, she has held the role of MHFA Coordinator for a consortium of Instructors, providing program facilitation and administration, Instructor support and guidance. In this role, she is focused on growing MHFA programs, ensuring high-quality training and increasing the number of trained Mental Health First Aiders.
• teen Mental Health First Aid: Amanda Padilla is a passionate advocate for youth mental health, serving as a prevention coordinator and teen MHFA Instructor at Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare. Through her engaging sessions and outreach initiatives, Padilla is transforming the way youth and Nassau County, Florida, residents view and address mental health, empowering them to become informed allies for themselves and their peers.
• Mental Health First Aid Community-specific Course: Brandon Bond spearheads public mental health initiatives as the Mental Health & Well-Being Project Lead in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts at the University of Michigan. The National Council is recognizing him for his excellence in instruction of MHFA for Higher Education, which prepares colleges and universities to address mental health and substance use challenges commonly experienced in higher education settings. Beyond his direct mental health and wellbeing work, Bond is a Fellow in the RESULTS Organizing and Advocacy Fellowship, which focuses on addressing poverty and hunger through grassroots advocacy.
• Coordinator of the Year: Maria Gdontakis Pos, MFT, has served as the training manager and statewide MHFA Coordinator for the Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs for 10 years. She has hosted over 50 Instructor trainings and supported more than 50,000 courses held in Oregon. Gdontakis Pos has also been instrumental in the development of the Oregon Mobile Crises Training Academy, leading a multi-stakeholder effort to provide MHFA training to mobile crisis teams.

Over 4 million people across the country have been trained in MHFA since the National Council introduced the program to the U.S. in 2008. Find out what it’s like being a MHFA Instructor and apply to become one today.  

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About The National Council  

Founded in 1969, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is a membership organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of more than 3,200 mental health and substance use treatment organizations and the more than 10 million children, adults and families they serve. We advocate for policies to ensure access to high-quality services. We build the capacity of mental health and substance use treatment organizations. And we promote greater understanding of mental wellbeing as a core component of comprehensive health and health care. Through our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program, we have trained more than 4 million people in the U.S. to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.

About Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based training program administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing that teaches individuals how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges. More than 4 million people across the United States have been trained in MHFA by a dedicated base of thousands of Instructors.