Registration open for faculty and staff Mental Health First Aid training

Faculty and staff are invited to register for Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training sessions being held this fall. MHFA training gives participants the tools and confidence to help someone who is developing a mental health concern or experiencing a mental health crisis.

MHFA training guides participants in identifying, understanding and responding to the warning signs and symptoms of various mental health concerns. Centered around a five-step action plan, the training gives participants concrete methods for helping in both crisis and non-crisis situations. The course is designed to help participants transfer their training to real-life situations, and Purdue’s version of the course is tailored to the specific pressures of university culture.

Participants will engage in role-playing and simulations to practice implementing the action plan in a variety of situations such as panic attacks, suicidal ideation and overdose or withdrawal. Sessions will be led by a team of Purdue employees who have been certified by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing to lead MFHA training courses. To ensure the courses are relevant to university employees, the session will include:

• A discussion of campus culture and its relevance to the topic of mental health.
• A discussion of the specific stress and risk factors faced by the higher education population.
• A review of mental health resources on campus and through partnerships in the community.

In addition to equipping individuals with specific skills, the program also supports the pursuit of a healthy, inclusive campus community by challenging stigmas around mental and emotional health. The course discusses a range of mental concerns, including anxiety, trauma, addiction and psychosis. MHFA training approaches mental health concerns as common and treatable, which supports mental well-being by fostering a supportive environment and increasing available resources.

Upcoming training sessions are available on the following dates at no cost to the employee. Each in-person training session lasts from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Spaces are limited, and individuals may register online.

• Sept. 15 (W)
• Sept. 24 (F)
• Oct. 14 (Th)
• Oct. 16 (Sa)
• Oct. 27 (W)
• Nov. 2 (Tu)
• Dec. 13 (M)
• Dec. 17 (F)

Upcoming MFHA programs on the West Lafayette campus are sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Students in coordination with the Steps to Leaps initiative. Other MHFA training opportunities are available throughout Indiana from Purdue Extension. More information about general MFHA course content is available.

Writer: Christy McCarter, mccarter@purdue.edu