Mental Health First Aid Certification
Mental Health First Aid Certification
Mental Health First Aid Certification
Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Since 2008, more than 3 million people in the U.S. have been trained by certified instructors to identify, understand, and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges. More information about Mental Health First Aid is available at the National Council for Wellbeing, and also in the slides below.
What Mental Health First Aid Training Covers
- Risk factors and warning signs of mental health and substance use challenges
- Information on depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis and substance use
- A 5-step action plan to help someone with a developing mental health or substance use challenge
Upcoming Mental Health Trainings
Training is available for everyone—SMD graduate students, postdocs, staff, and faculty can all attend Mental Health First Aid training conveniently on-site. MHFA Certified Instructor Amber Rivera, Director of Learner Life and Wellness, offers the training several times per year. Contact Amber for more information or to register for an upcoming training session.
MHFA training session (mornings) for graduate students and postdocs
July 13 and 14, 2026 - 8:00 am – 12:15 pm
Register on Handshake: https://rochester.joinhandshake.com/events/1955639/share_preview
MHFA training session (full day) for graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff
July 22, 2026 - 8:00 am – 4:15 pm
Register on Handshake: https://rochester.joinhandshake.com/events/1955658/share_preview
Faculty/staff register by emailing Amber Rivera amber_rivera@urmc.rochester.edu
MHFA training session (mornings) for graduate students, postdocs, faculty and staff
July 27 and 28, 2026 - 8 am – 12:15 pm
Register on Handshake: https://rochester.joinhandshake.com/events/1955649/share_preview
Faculty/staff register by emailing Amber Rivera amber_rivera@urmc.rochester.edu
