Author Archive

In my sophomore year of high school, I took the teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) course as part of my gym class, and my number one takeaway is that mental health is just as important as physical health. This...

Beginning or returning to college can be an exciting time for students. Each year is a new chapter filled with learning, discovery and opportunities. But, how students respond to the stressors of higher education varies from person to person —...

College campuses are a melting pot of cultures and experiences. Students can hail from the same state as their school, or from across the world. Some are first-generation students and some have alumni in their family. Some live in dorms...

It’s easy to feel mentally exhausted in a world that demands so much of our time, energy and focus. Many people push themselves from sunup to sundown in a quest to keep up with responsibilities at home and work, juggling...

In 2022, nearly 49,476 people in the U.S. died by suicide — an average of one person every 11 minutes — according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10–14...

According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, about 6% of people have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But PTSD affects more than military members and veterans. Just one event can have a lifetime impact on a person’s overall wellbeing...

The American Cancer Society uses the term “survivor” to refer to anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, no matter where they are in the course of the disease. Being a breast cancer survivor has opened my eyes to how...

I first heard about teen Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) late summer of 2018. The National Council was piloting the program across the country. As a manager at North Texas Behavioral Health Authority in Dallas, I was immediately intrigued by...

It’s World Mental Health Day! Each year, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) joins the World Health Organization to raise awareness about mental health around the world and support those experiencing mental health and substance use challenges. In honor of the...

Life has a rhythm. Some seasons are busier than others, some are quieter and more predictable. Workloads ebb and flow. Relationships evolve. And then there are the curveballs thrown our way. Our lives change no matter what, and that change...

With 14 years of experience in the corrections industry, plus family in the field, Kristen Thompson has a bead on what goes on inside correctional facilities. Thompson, who is a field services training manager for the Wyoming Department of Corrections,...

Mental Health First Aid USA only offers trainings to employees based in the United States at this time. Working in the retail industry is downright tough. It can be mentally and emotionally draining for many reasons, such as interacting with...