Mental and emotional well-being are critical components to an individual’s health status. Recently a number of affiliates have identified mental and emotional health issues are priority areas that need to be addressed within their communities. With this in mind, the Health and Quality of Life team wanted to provide the affiliates attending the 2016 Whitney M. Young Leadership Development Conference with a certification to help them meet this need.

Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course that teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training provides the skills needed to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.

16 staff representing 12 affiliates from across the country completed the training and were successfully certified as Mental Health First Aid Responders!