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Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based, early-intervention course that teaches participants about mental health and substance use challenges.

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a teacher with students smiling at the camera outside of a school

Why Youth Mental Health Matters — and How Schools Can Lead the Way

Mental health challenges affect 1 in 5 youth each year, yet most never get the support they need. Too often, young people stay quiet, try to handle things alone or believe that no one would care if they got better. Caring adults can make all the difference, but only if they know how to recognize the signs and respond. That’s where schools and youth-serving organizations […]...

Mental Health First Aid training has taught the officer to ask his charges, “What happened?” instead of, “What’s wrong with you?”” –Officer Orlando Singleton
So many people are out there wishing for something better, hoping that help will show up. That’s what Mental Health First Aid is – it is help to get people connected to care and ultimately to get them to a better place.” –Tousha Paxton-Barnes, U.S. Army Veteran
I wish that every corrections officer could receive Mental Health First Aid training. I believe that our corrections system would be better because of it – the inmates would benefit, the officers would benefit and ultimately our communities would benefit.” –Lt. Virgil Meyer, Lieutenant, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
As adults, we sometimes forget how hard it was being an adolescent. When we see a kid who is just miserable at school, we might think they choose to be that way – or that it’s just part of adolescence. But in fact, they might be in a mental health crisis, one they certainly did not choose and do not want. When a teacher says “how can I be helpful,” that is a powerful question. ” –Alyssa Fruchtenicht, School-Based Mental Health Counselor