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You Matter: Youth Day – July 26 | Ages 12–18 | Workshops, Stories & Healing | Register Today!

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Classmates in Library

MHFA Website Content Overview& Planning​

Discover Our Roadmap

MHFA, YMHFA, TMHFA definitions & distinctions ​

Why MHFA matters​

Instructor info​

Future trainings or school participation ​

MHFA, YMHFA, TMHFA definitions and distinctions ​

MHFA: Mental Health First Aid​

Mental Health First Aid is a coursethat teaches you how to identify,understand and respond to signs ofmental illnesses and substance usedisorders. ​

 

The training gives you the skills youneed to reach out and provide initialhelp and support to someone whomay be developing a mental health orsubstance use problem orexperiencing a crisis.

YMHFA: Youth Mental Health First Aid​

Purpose:

How adults can help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. ​

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Audience:

Adults who regularly interact with young people​.

TMHFA: Teen Mental Health First Aid ​

Purpose:

How teens can identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among their friends and peers.​

​

Audience:

Teens in grades 9-12 or ages 14-18​

** YMHFA and TMHFA are two courses within MHFA​

Content Overviews​

YMHFA

  • The course introduces common mentalhealth challenges for youth, reviewstypical adolescent development, andteaches a 5-step action plan for how tohelp young people in both crisis andnon-crisis situations. ​

  • Topics covered include anxiety,depression, substance use, disorders inwhich psychosis may occur, disruptivebehavior disorders (including AD/HD),and eating disorders. 

 

Overall, more than 4 million people across the United States have been trained in Mental Health FirstAid by more than 15,000 Instructors.​

Why MHFA Matters
Facts
Why MHFA Matters
Facts
Nia Jovan Andrews

Instructor Info​

Nia Jovan Andrews is a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) instructor, communications professional, and founder of One Purpose Love, a nonprofit organization dedicated to youth empowerment and community healing. With nearly two decades of experience in public health communication and youth programming, Nia brings a compassionate and culturally grounded approach to mental health education. She integrates storytelling, media, and evidence-based training to help young people build resilience and develop practical coping skills.

Instructor Finding Tool

Further Involvement ​

To find a course or contact a Mental Health First Aid Instructor in your area, visit MHFA.org or email Hello@MentalHealthFirstAid.org

For YMHFA:​

  • Learners can complete a 6.5-hour, Instructor-led, in-person session; or ​

  • Learners can complete a 2-hour, self-paced online course and participate in a 4.5- to 5.5-hour, Instructor-led training. This Instructor-led Training can be a video conference or an in-person class.

For TMHFA:​

  • High schools, organizations partnering with a high school and youth-serving organizations are eligible to teach TMHFA​

  • Teens can complete in six 45-minute in-person sessions or three 90-minute in-person sessions; or​

  • Teens can complete a self-paced online lesson, then participate in six live, Instructor-led sessions. These Instructor-led sessions can be video conferences or in-person classes.

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