Understand how intentional behavior change happens, how to support people through
the process of change, and the importance of providing interventions that are
appropriate for the stage each person is in.

The Mental Health First Aid for Adults teaches people how to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges in adults ages 18 and older, how to offer and provide initial help, and how to guide a person toward appropriate care if necessary. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addictions.

Learn how toxic stress changes the physiology of early brain development, recognize the
connection between substance use and trauma, discuss protective factors and how to
build resilient, self-healing communities.

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 (ages 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 a 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 AD/HD), and eating disorders.

Identify social determinants of health and how they affect an individual and community, review factors influencing change such as health equity and bias, and discuss upstream and downstream approaches to the overdose crisis.

Understand medications for opioid use disorder and how they can improve lives, review how medicatiosn can prevent overdose death, and discuss how stigma creates barriers to effective treatment.

Learn more about how stigma impacts health, review key harm reduction strategies and protective factors for infectious disease, and how to apply a drug user health framework in your organization.