Mental Health First Aid

Solari has been awarded the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) Mental Health Awareness Training grant for an additional five years! That means we’ll be training individuals across Arizona in critical Mental Health First Aid.

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We have been training for 3 years since receiving the MHFA Grant and have provided 54 of classes and trained 1124 people!

Adult MHFA

Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.

  • Depression and mood disorders
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Trauma
  • Psychosis
  • Substance Use disorders

When you take a course, you learn how to apply the Mental Health First Aid action plan in a variety of situations, including when someone is experiencing:

  • Panic Attacks
  • Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
  • Nonsuicidal self-injury
  • Acute psychosis
  • Overdose or withdrawal from alcohol or drug use
  • Reaction to a traumatic event

Youth MHFA

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include

  • anxiety
  • depression
  • substance use
  • disorders in which psychosis may occur
  • disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD)
  • eating disorders.

Teen MHFA

Teen Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach students in grades 10-12 or ages 15-18 how to help a friend who is experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis.

This course introduces common mental health challenges for teens and teaches an action plan for how to help their friends in both crisis and non-crisis situations.

Topics covered include:

  • Signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges
  • Signs and symptoms of a mental health crisis, particularly suicide
  • The impact of school violence and bullying on mental health
  • How to open the conversation about mental illnesses and substance use with friends

Past In-Person Trainings

Course Format

Each provides a 3 year certification

Virtual

First Aiders will compete a 2- hour self-paced pre-work and then participate in a 6-hour instructor led class using virtual technology

In Person

First Aiders will complete an in person 8- hour in person course.

 

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Participant Feedback from the course

“(MHFA) has made me believe there’s a way to get better, for myself, and has given more resources to use and share with people in deep inner pain and mental anguish that are realistic and actually make a difference in whether the outcome is living or not living.”

“I can’t tell people enough that everyone should take this course because mental health should be treated exactly like medical issues! This course does that and everyone should take this course just like CPR and first aid.”

“Allowed me better communication on mental health issues with friends and loved ones, and a platform to offer people to better their mental health.”

“I think about someone’s mental health when they are reacting negatively. It makes me rethink my approach.”

“Allowed me to be more confident in keeping people safe and connecting them to resources.”

I feel more comfortable truly asking people how they are doing. I feel comfortable listening non judgmentally.”

“MHFA provided me with the skills to understand and assist with personal family crisis and educate others on resources.”

“(MHFA) It has clarified a few questions that I had about approaching someone who may be having suicidal thoughts. I’ve never known what the appropriate way to approach someone when it comes to confirming whether or not they need help, but now I do.”

 

“Strengthened my ability to discuss mental health concerns with friends and family, and help direct them into care.”

“(MHFA) has made me more proactive in addressing mental health when I see it.”

Groups we are looking to partner with

Priority Groups:

  • School personnel
  • Military/veterans
  • First responders
  • Healthcare workers

Additional Groups:

  • Community Members

Partnerships

Solari Crisis & Human Services is proud to partner with organizations throughout Arizona to provide mental health awareness training to increase knowledge, eliminate stigma and reduce mental health disparities in our community.

 

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