C E R T I F I E D  I N S T R U C T O R — 

N A T I O N A L  C O U N C I L  F O R M E N T A L  W E L L B E I N G

Mental Health First Aid

Training for Your Workplace

Learn to recognize, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges—the same way CPR prepares you for a physical emergency.

— Offered in partnership with MHFA.org

4.5M+

PEOPLE TRAINED IN THE U.S.

1 in 5

ADULTS EXPERIENCE MENTAL ILLNESS YEARLY

8 hrs

COURSE LENGTH — ONLINE

3 yr

CERTIFICATION VALIDITY

WHAT IS IT?

First aid for mental health

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a skills-based training program from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing that teaches people how to identify, understand, and respond to signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use challenge in adults ages 18 and over.

Just as physical first aid gives you the tools to help someone during a medical crisis, MHFA gives you the tools to provide initial support until professional help is obtained—or the crisis resolves.

It's not therapy. It's not a diagnosis. It's being the kind of colleague, manager, or community member who knows what to say and what to do when someone is struggling.

MHFA is evidence-based, with peer-reviewed studies showing that trained individuals have greater mental health knowledge, reduced stigma, and increased confidence to help someone in distress.

WHY THIS TRAINING MATTERS

One in five adults in the United States experiences a mental health condition in any given year. In the workplace, that means one in five of your employees is likely struggling with something right now—and most of them will never say a word about it.

The impact shows up in other ways. Unexplained absences. Missed deadlines. Withdrawal from the team. Irritability. Declining performance. Managers see these signs every day and rarely know what to do with them — not because they do not care, but because no one ever taught them.

Mental Health First Aid training changes that. It gives your managers and team members the language, the confidence, and the practical skills to recognize when a colleague is struggling and respond in a way that actually helps.

Image showing the ALGEE Action Plan. Assess for risk of suicide or harm. Listen nonjudgmentally. Give reassurance and information. Encourage appropriate professional help. Encourage self help and other support strategies.

COURSE CONTENT

What participants learn

The Adult MHFA curriculum covers a comprehensive set of mental health topics designed to build real-world confidence.

Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges

How to interact with a person in crisis

Expanded content on trauma and post-traumatic stress

How to reduce mental health stigma in your environment

Common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges

How to connect a person with appropriate professional help

Self-care strategies and building personal resilience

When and how to encourage someone to seek help

WHO BENEFITS?

Built for every workplace

Mental Health First Aid is valuable across industries, roles, and organizations of any size. If your team interacts with people — this training matters.

Employers & HR teams

Build psychologically safe workplaces and fulfill duty of care obligations.

First responders & public safety

Navigate mental health crises in the field with confidence and de-escalation skills.

People managers

Recognize when a team member is struggling and know how to start the conversation.

Healthcare & social services

Strengthen your team's capacity to provide mental health-informed support.

Community organizations

Equip your volunteers and staff to support community members in crisis.

Caring individuals

Anyone who wants to be a better resource for the people in their life.

COURSE FORMAT

How the training works

OFFERED BY BLOOM & BELONG

BLENDED ONLINE

Participants complete a 2-hour self-paced online module, then join a live virtual instructor-led session. Flexible for remote and hybrid teams.

Approx. 6–8 hours total · Online · Group or team-based

ALSO AVAILABLE

IN-PERSON

A full 7.5-hour instructor-led classroom experience. Ask about availability for in-person delivery in your area.

Pricing: Training fees are quoted based on group size, format, and organizational needs. The Adult MHFA course carries a standard value of $170 per learner. Contact us to discuss a package that fits your team. Subsidized rates may be available for nonprofits and community organizations.

7.5 hours · On-site · Contact for availability

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Anyone in your organization benefits — but managers, supervisors, HR staff, and team leads are the highest priority. They are the ones most likely to notice when something is wrong and most likely to be the first point of contact when an employee is struggling.

  • Not at all. Mental Health First Aid is specifically designed for non-clinical workplace professionals — people with no mental health background whatsoever. No prior knowledge or training is required.

  • Every participant who completes the full 8-hour course receives an official Mental Health First Aid certification through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing — valid for three years.

  • Yes—I tailor examples and scenarios to be relevant to your specific workplace context whether you are a nonprofit, a small business, a school, or a healthcare organization.

  • Virtual sessions are limited to 15 participants to ensure every attendee receives a high-quality, interactive experience. Larger groups can be accommodated through multiple sessions or in-person delivery — contact me to discuss options.

  • Book a free 30-minute call at bloomandbelonghr.com and we will find a date that works for your team.

A woman with short blonde hair styled in a layered cut, wearing a black blazer and a white top, looking directly at the camera with a slight smile and wearing subtle makeup.

Melissa Meike

YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Trained to teach, committed to people

As a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, I bring both professional HR expertise and genuine passion for mental wellbeing to every training.

With 13 years of HR experience — including deep roots in education — I understand the real pressures workplaces face around mental health. This training isn't just a checkbox. It's a skill set your team will actually use.

Bloom & Belong HR Consulting is an independent HR consulting practice. The opinions expressed in trainings are solely those of the Instructor and do not reflect the official stances of Mental Health First Aid USA or the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. — set to italic, small size, white at ~50% opacity

READY TO GET STARTED?

Let's bring MHFA to your team

Whether you're looking to train a small team or build a certified workforce, we'll find a format that works for your organization.

Reach out to discuss dates, pricing, and how to get started.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based training program of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. MHFA® is a registered trademark of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. This page promotes MHFA training offered by a certified independent Instructor. For more information or to find additional courses, visit MHFA.org or email Hello@MentalHealthFirstAid.org.

Mental Health First Aid is a program of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. It was brought to the United States in 2008 to make mental health support as common as physical first aid and CPR. More than 4.5 million people across the U.S. have been trained.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text
988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.