Virtual Mental Health First Aid Training

Description

Mental Health First Aid USA is a public education program managed by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing that helps learners identify signs and symptoms of a mental health challenge in adults, understand the effects of mental health challenges on an adult’s life, and safely respond to an adult experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. 

Mental Health First Aid does not prepare learners to take on the role of professionals. First Aiders will not be trained to diagnose, provide counseling, or prescribe medications. Mental Health First Aid is also not a counseling or therapy group for the learner. 

This course includes 2 hours of self-paced work on the Connect learning system and two, 4-hour interactive instructor-led classes via Zoom. Following the successful completion of this course, participants will receive a certificate that lasts for 3 years. Receiving a Mental Health First Aid certificate does not mandate a learner to use Mental Health First Aid, but rather shows that the person has successfully learned the information provided in the Mental Health First Aid course. 

For more information on the history and success of Mental Health First Aid USA at the national level, please visit: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/about/

For more information about Mental Health First Aid USA at Michigan State University Extension, please visit: https://www.canr.msu.edu/mental-health-first-aid/

Who Should Attend

This training is designed for adults 18 years and older whose primary residence is in the United States. Any person looking to strengthen their skills in recognizing and responding to mental health challenges and crises in their communities, social networks, and workplaces can benefit from this course. If you have been certified in Mental Health First Aid USA previously and would like to renew your certification, you can choose to either re-take the entirety of the instructor-led course or take a shortened, self-paced recertification course in the Connect learning management system. You can find information on how to access the recertification course in this article: How to Renew Your Mental Health First Aid Certification. Please note that this course is offered in English and is not eligible to be offered through a translator (other than ASL by request). A Spanish version of the USA Adult Mental Health First Aid course is available but not currently offered by MSU Extension trainers. Currently, this curriculum is not offered in any other languages.

Location

This course will take place online via the Connect learning platform and Zoom. Information about accessing the self-paced work in Connect and the Zoom meeting information will be sent out via email after registering for this course.

Time

The self-paced work on Connect takes learners about 2 hours to complete and can be done either all at once or in sections any time before the pre-work due date: May 17, 2024, at 12 p.m. (noon) ET. 

The instructor-led Zoom sessions begin at 12:30 p.m. ET and end at 4:30 p.m. ET on both training days. If you are unable to attend the entirety of the training, please select an alternative date as we cannot certify any individual that misses more than 10% (40 minutes) of the total training time between both days for any reason.

Date

Wednesday, May 22nd and Thursday, May 23rd 
12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET

Cost

The cost of Mental Health First Aid is $45 per registrant. This includes access to the Connect learning system and all its resources for 3 years, the instructor-led session, and a downloadable certificate. 

Registration and Coursework Process 

1. Upon completing this registration, you will receive a receipt via the email provided.
2. Within a week of registering, you will within a month or less of your course date receive an email from msue.mhfa@msu.edu with your Connect account information. Please check your junk and/or spam folders for this email if you don't receive it. Upon receiving this email, click the link in the email and log in with the provided information. Upon logging in you will be asked to change your password.
   • If you have an existing Connect account you will not be automatically enrolled in the course. Instead, you will receive an email invite from msue.mhfa@msu.edu and must log in using that link with your existing account information before you can be enrolled in your course. 
3. Complete the course pre-work which includes modules 1-10 in your Connect course. Pre-work will be complete when the progress bar is at 69%. Pre-work can be completed all at once or in sections any time before the due date. The pre-work is due at 12 p.m. (noon) ET the Friday before your course (May 17, 2024).
   
   • Extensions may be granted per request. You will receive periodic reminders from your course instructors if your pre-work is not complete. You will not receive a verification email when your pre-work is complete unless you ask for it. Failure to complete the pre-work by the due date without an extension request may result in removal from the course.
4. You will receive an email from your course instructors 1 day before your course with the Zoom meeting information as long as your course pre-work is complete.
5. The instructor-led session will take place on Zoom from 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET on both course dates. Participants must be present and engaged in the training for at least 90% of the teaching time (no more than 40 minutes away total, not including scheduled breaks) to be certified.
   
   • Present and engaged means that the participant's camera is on, the participant is within the view of their camera, the participant can unmute themselves and speak to the group, and the participant can type responses to questions in the chatbox. Failure to meet the expectations of the training without prior approval for accommodations for disabilities or extenuating circumstances may result in no certification and no refund per our cancellation policy.
6. After attending the instructor-led session, you will receive an email with instructions on how to complete the Connect post-course modules and download your certificate.

Course Requirements

Devices used to complete this course must meet the following requirements:

• Internet access
• Ability to run the Zoom application
• Working camera
• Working speaker
• Working microphone

A separate device, such as a cell phone, may be used for a camera/speaker/microphone if the device used for viewing the Zoom application and Connect materials does not have these capabilities.

This course, including the pre-work and the instructor-led day, is not designed to be completed solely from a cell phone. Please make plans to complete the pre-work and instructor-led day from a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. 

Driving while participating in the course is not allowed. Participants will be asked to leave the Zoom meeting or will be removed from the instructor-led training if they are found to be driving during the course due to safety concerns. Removal from the course due to driving will count toward a learner's away time. Learners can return to the course at their discretion once they are no longer driving.

Cancellation Policy

• Cancel on or before May 10, 2024 - FULL REFUND of $45. 
• Cancel on or after May 11, 2024 - NO REFUND
  • Failure to complete your pre-work by 12 p.m. (noon) ET on May 17, 2024, without approval for an extension will result in cancellation.
  • Failure to attend at least 90% of the instructor-led session will result in cancellation.
• Exceptions to this cancellation policy may be made at the discretion of the course instructors.

Payment Options

• Michigan State University Extension Employees:
  • Please enter the MHFA account number for MSU Extension employees on the payment page. Note: Please DO NOT use your personal/grant/work team account. If you don't have the MHFA account number please email msue.mhfa@msu.edu or leave it blank and we will enter it for you.
• Registering as an individual (this includes non-Extension MSU staff and faculty):
  • Individuals must pay by credit card at the time of registration when able. If payment by credit card is unavailable, please contact msue.mhfa@msu.edu.
• Group Registrations- individuals register themselves but a single payment method for the group is to be used:
  • This must be approved by the Mental Health First Aid team. Email msue.mhfa@msu.edu to move forward with this option.
• Group Registrations (one person registering on behalf of a group):
  • If you would like to register multiple participants on their behalf, please choose the group registration option on the following page and be ready to provide the following information for each participant:
    • First and Last name of the participant
    • Pronouns of the participant (not required)
    • Email of the participant (this must be an individual email, not a shared email address)
    • Phone number of the participant (this must be the best number to reach the participant at the location they are completing the training from)
    • Address of the participant (home address, not work address if possible)
    • County of the participant (the county of residence, not the county of work location if possible)
    • Which participants have an existing Connect account (if you don't know, select no for this question)
    • Special needs accommodations requests for the participant
  • Payment via credit card at the time of registration is preferred, please email msue.mhfa@msu.edu if payment by credit card is not available for your group.

Trainers

Carly Sandoval- Program Lead
glunzcar@msu.edu

Abigail Cudney
ajcudney@msu.edu

Kai Gritter
grittern@msu.edu

Lisa Tams
tams@msu.edu

Georgina Guzmán
gguzman@msu.edu

Jacqueline Rabine
rabineja@msu.edu

Misty Oebel
oebelmis@msu.edu