Over the President’s Day holiday break, a dedicated group of student leaders, graduate and undergraduate students, and staff members came together for a full-day professional development session hosted by Student Life. This training, facilitated by experts from the Erie County Department of Health’s Office of Health Equity, focused on mental health first aid (MHFA). Participants received a National MHFA Certification from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. This certification is valid for three years and signifies that the individual has been trained to identify, understand, and respond to mental health and substance use challenges in others. A special thank you to the Office of Health Equity for their partnership in making this important training possible.
What is Mental Health First Aid?
MHFA is an evidence-based training that helps adults provide immediate and practical support to individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge or crisis. The program aims to reduce fear and hesitation when discussing mental health by improving understanding and offering a clear action plan.
For those interested in learning more about Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and future training opportunities, visit the National Council for Mental Wellbeing website or contact Mike Yates at yatesm@canisius.edu.
Submitted by: Michael Yates, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students, Student Life
