About Mental Health First Aid Training
The Trainer
Dan Muxfeld
Dan Muxfeld has taught Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid since 2015. Since then, he has led more than 300 Mental Health First Aid trainings. Dan has taught a wide variety of audiences including school, government, business, and non-profit organizations. Dan brings energy, enthusiasm and humor to the classroom. He is one of the highest ranked trainers in Wisconsin.
The Training
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a skills-based training that teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use challenge. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it builds mental health literacy, providing an action plan that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental health or substance use challenge. MHFA First Aid is managed, operated, and disseminated by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
Learn more about Mental Health First Aid training a www.MHFA.org and www.TheNationalCouncil.org
Adult Mental Health First Aid
Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training is intended for adults who wish to help people with emerging mental health disorders or experiencing a mental health crisis. Participants learn to recognize signs and symptoms of an emerging mental health disorder or mental health crisis. Participants also learn a 5-step action plan to engage and ultimately guide people to both professional and community resources that can help.
The class is a two-part training. Part one is a self-paced, on-line overview of the entire training. This section includes:
• What is Mental Health First Aid?
• What do Mental Health First Aiders do?
• What is the MHFA action plan?
• What is mental health?
• What is a mental health challenge?
• What is stigma?
Certified Mental Health First Aid instructors lead part two of the training. This training is available as a virtual or in-person training. The 6-hour session takes the knowledge and skills learned in part one and applies it to crisis and non-crisis situations. Through a combination of lecture, activities, scenarios, and videos, participants learn to assess, approach, listen non-judgmentally, give reassurance and information, encourage appropriate help, and encourage self-help. Participants who complete the class receive a 3-year certification as a Mental Health First Aid.
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training is intended for adults who work, mentor, or teach young people ages 8-18. The goal of YMHFA training is to teach adults to recognize signs and symptoms of an emerging mental health disorder or mental health crisis. Participants also learn a 5-step action plan to engage and ultimately guide young people to both professional and community resources that can help.
The class is a two-part training. Part one is a self-paced, on-line overview of the entire training. This section includes:
• What is Youth Mental Health First Aid?
• What is the YMHFA action plan?
• What is mental health?
• What is a mental health challenge?
• What is stigma?
• What is typical adolescent development?
• What are risk and protective factors?
Certified Youth Mental Health First Aid instructors lead part two of the training. This training is available as virtually or in-person. The 5+ hour session takes the knowledge and skills learned in part one and applies it to crisis and non-crisis situations. Through a combination of lecture, activities, scenarios, and videos, participants learn to assess, approach, listen non-judgmentally, give reassurance/information, encourage appropriate help, and encourage self-help to youth showing signs/symptoms of a mental health disorder or mental health crisis.
Participants who complete the class receive a 3-year certification as a Youth Mental Health First Aider.