The National Alliance On Mental Illness (NAMI) designates September as National Suicide Prevention Month. In addition, October 9 is National Depression Screening Day which began in 1991, and October 10 is World Mental Health Day. In recognition of these important initiatives, learn skills to support someone experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge or crisis.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), a skills-based training that teaches participants about mental illness and substance use challenges, how best to offer support, connect to professional resources, the importance of self-care and how to reduce stigma. Participants will learn actionable steps they can use right away to better support someone.
This training is offered by certified MHFA instructor, Danielle Casioppo, MS, Education Specialist and Coordinator with Being Well at Yale. MHFA certification is 8-hours total consisting of two hours of required asynchronous online pre-work and two 4-hour in-person instructor-led sessions.
The training teaches participants skills they can use right away. When Danielle was first trained as a Mental Health First Aider in January of 2018, she found herself using her new skills almost immediately to support someone close to her who was in crisis. Danielle was very grateful for this training, “I knew that there were some difficult questions I needed to ask, and thanks to MHFA, I knew what to say and what not to say, in order to support this person in getting the help they needed. After that experience, I realized that these skills are so needed, so important, both at home and at work, I wanted to become an instructor and help share this information.” Since August of 2020, Danielle has led 65 MHFA courses training over 700 Yale employees.
The feedback from participants:
- “I am now more confident in talking to those in distress and also realized the importance of self-care.”
- “The training was very interesting and useful, especially for someone like myself with absolutely no other relevant background. I’m very happy I attended and it was time well spent.”
- “I’m so glad to be a Mental Health First Aider and hope I can help others in the future.”
- “I was able to use my MHFA knowledge to help a friend in crisis and get him into a rehabilitation program.”
- “So many resources and information I hadn’t known before, this was super helpful!”
Many departments at Yale are passionate about mental health. If you’re a manager, supervisor, or team leader interested in learning more about how to schedule a MHFA training, or a one-hour intro session, for your department, you’re welcome to join the MHFA Q&A session for managers on October 27 at 12:15 p.m. via Zoom.
The cost of this program is generously provided by Being Well at Yale / Employee Well-being for departments or groups of up to 25 employees per fiscal year.
Interested employees who are able to meet all requirements of the November 12 and 13 training can get more information and register through Workday Learning.
If you missed the September 15th How to Help: You Can Be the Difference webinar in recognition of National Suicide Prevention Month and National Recovery Month, employees are welcome to request the recording link. Please contact beingwell@yale.edu for more information.