What is Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need 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.
Learn how to respond with the Mental Health First Aid Action Plan (ALGEE):
A ssess for risk of suicide or harm.
L isten nonjudgmentally.
G ive reassurance and information.
E ncourage appropriate professional help.
E ncourage self-help and other support strategies.
Register for a FREE Course | Three (3) Programs Offered
Earn Your Mental Health First Aid Certificate
Course Descriptions
Mental Health First Aid for Adults (For Adults)
| Date and Location | Time |
|---|---|
| Sunday: October 1, 2023 | Student Athlete Mental Health Week | University of South Carolina, Dodie Anderson Academic Enrichment Center – 3rd Floor, 1300 Heyward St., Columbia, SC 29208 |
9am to 4pm |
| Monday: October 2, 2023 | Student Athlete Mental Health Week | University of South Carolina, Dodie Anderson Academic Enrichment Center – 3rd Floor, 1300 Heyward St., Columbia, SC 29208 | 9am to 4pm |
| Saturday: October 14, 2023 | Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center | 1218 Batchelor Street, West Columbia, SC 29169 |
9am to 4pm
|
| Wednesday: December 6, 2023 | Midlands Workforce Development Board | S.C. Works Lexington Office | 671 Main Street West Columbia, SC 29169 | 9am to 4pm |
Youth Mental Health First Aid (For Adults)
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 ADHD), and eating disorders.
• In-person – Learners will receive their training as an 8-hour, Instructor-led, in-person course.
| Date and Location | Time |
|---|---|
| *Wednesday: November 8, 2023 | Lexington/Richland School District 5 | The Center for Advanced Technical Studies (CAT), 916 Mt. Vernon Church Road, Chapin, SC 29063 | 8am to 4:30pm |
| *Thursday: November 16, 2023 | Lexington/Richland School District 5 | The Center for Advanced Technical Studies (CAT), 916 Mt. Vernon Church Road, Chapin, SC 29063 | 8am to 4:30pm |
| Friday and Saturday: February 2-3, 2024 | SC Speech Pathology Association Conference | Spartanburg Marriott, 299 North Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306 |
Friday: 6pm to 8pm Saturday: 9am to 12pm |
*Training for Lexington/Richland District 5 Employees Only
Mental Health First Aid for Teens (For Teens Ages 15-18)*
*If you are a teen interested in Mental Health First Aid Training, please have a parent/guardian or an adult at your school, church, etc., contact us directly.
Training site location will be BLEC or another local site that will be provided prior to training date.
Training Site Location and Contact Information:
Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center (BLEC) 1218 Batchelor Street
West Columbia, S.C. 29169
Mr. Reginald Rearden, Project Coordinator
Office: (803) 744-1961 | Cell: (803) 351-2881
mentalhealth@brookland.cc rrearden@brookland.cc
Dr. Cindye Richburg Cotton, Project Director
Office: (803) 744-1975 | Cell: (803) 747-3519