Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid is a public education program that teaches you how to Identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This 8-hour training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.
We want to make Mental Health First Aid as common as CPR classes. Anyone in the community can take these classes, and there are specialized courses offered for teens. We want to empower all of our community members to respond to the mental health needs of the people around them. Having knowledge of Mental Health First Aid can help prevent suicide, hospitalization, or mental health and substance use crisis.
In this class, you'll learn more than just how to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health or substance use, but also develop an action plan, and identify resources in your immediate area that you can turn to or recommend to friends and loved ones. Everyone knows they need to go to the hospital when they have a broken arm, but not everyone knows they can go to Pawnee's Crisis Stabilization Unit if they are having a panic attack.
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA)
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 AD/HD), and eating disorders.
Upcoming Mental Health First Aid Classes
- MHFA: March, 7 2024 | 210 W 21st St, Concordia, KS 66901
- MHFA: March 14, 2024 | 2001 Claflin Rd, Manhattan, KS 66502
- YMHFA: April 25, 2024 | 2001 Claflin Rd, Manhattan, KS 66502
- MHFA: May 29, 2024 | 2001 Claflin Rd, Manhattan, KS 66502
Upcoming Q. P. R. Classes
The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. The signs of crisis are all around us. We believe that quality education empowers all people, regardless of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know.
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Upcoming Class Dates to be Added Soon
Training Details / Pricing
- Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) | FREE*
$50 per person| 7.5 Hours of Training
Teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults (see information sheet)
- Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) | FREE*
$50 per person| 6.5 Hours of Training
Teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 12-18 (see information sheet)
- Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) | FREE*
$50 per person| Six 45 Minute Sessions OR Three 90 Minute Sessions (to be scheduled through a school)
Teaches teens in grades 10-12, or ages 15-18, how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in their friends and peers.
- QPR: Question. Persuade. Refer. | FREE*
$20 per Person | $400 for a Group| 2 Hours of Training
The 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. In this course, you will learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade and refer someone to help.
- De-Escalation | FREE*
$400 for a Group
Teaches you how to remain calm, use verbal communication strategies, create physical distance between themselves and community members, and employ critical thinking skills to pivot to other tactics in response to changing dynamics.
Download the MHFA and QPR Handout
For more information on a class near you, please contact us at 785-587-4300 or training@pawnee.org. Courses are offered regularly, be sure to check our social media for dates, or if you are an organization interested in scheduling a training, don't hesitate to reach out.
