Most of us would know how to help if we saw someone having a heart attack — we would start CPR or call 911. But too few of us would know how to respond if we saw someone having a mental health or substance use-related crisis. Just like taking CPR or first aid courses, you can take Mental Health First Aid, opens a new window to learn how to help someone who's experiencing a crisis.
Starting this August, San Mateo County Libraries will offer in-person Mental Health First Aid trainings to the public.
In the training, participants will learn about the most prevalent mental health and substance use crises experienced in the United States, as well as how to implement an action plan when helping someone who’s experiencing a crisis.
The free courses will be provided in person at four of our libraries: Millbrae, Belmont, Half Moon Bay and San Carlos. Each course is eight hours, and will be offered in four-hour sessions over two days. Registration is required and participants must attend both days to complete the training.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a course grounded in evidence and research and has been implemented in over 25 countries since its start in Australia. MHFA does not teach individuals how to diagnose mental health conditions. Instead, it empowers participants to start conversations about mental health or substance use. It does this by improving understanding and providing an action plan that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential issue. MHFA is especially important today, as many individuals’ mental health took a downturn during the pandemic.
Below are the scheduled dates and locations for the Mental Health First Aid training. Click on the links to find the registration for each event!
- Saturday, August 19 and Sunday, August 20, 12:00 PM at Millbrae
- Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15 from 10:30 AM at North Fair Oaks Library
- Saturday, November 4 and Sunday, November 5, 12:00 PM at Belmont
- Saturday, February 24 and Sunday, February 25, 12:00 PM at Half Moon Bay
- Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24, 12 PM at Brisbane Library
- Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28, 10:30 PM at San Carlos
If you are interested in learning more about mental health issues and better equipping yourself to help others experiencing mental health challenges, register for an MHFA session today.
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