LAH0017 - Mental Health First Aid
Course Description
Learn how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This course equips you with the skills to provide initial support to someone who may be experiencing distress or developing a mental health or substance use problem and connect them to appropriate care.
Ideal for employers, police officers, hospital staff, first responders, faith leaders, educators, community members, and other caring individuals. The program is taught by a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor.
Credential
Earn a Mental Health First Aider certificate that is valid for 3 years.
Course Outline
- Recognizing signs and symptoms of mental illness
- Recognizing signs and symptoms of substance use
- How to interact with a person in distress
- How to connect individuals with appropriate help
- Expanded content on trauma, addiction, and self-care
- Introduction and application of the ALGEE Action Plan
Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:- Define and recognize signs of mental health and substance use challenges.
- Demonstrate the ALGEE action plan to support individuals in both crisis and non-crisis situations.
Assess for risk of suicide or harm
Listen non-judgmentally
Give reassurance and information
Encourage professional help
Encourage self-help strategies
- Identify appropriate professional, peer, and self-help resources available in the community.
- Apply skills in realistic role-playing scenarios with empathy and confidence.
- Promote recovery and self-care strategies for individuals experiencing mental health challenges.
Notes
Participants must complete a 2-hour, self-paced online module before attending the in-person training session.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
This course qualifies for 7.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Participants must complete all online and in-person components to be eligible for CEU certification.
Alessandra McNamara is a nursing faculty member at Harper College and a certified psychiatric-mental health nurse with broad experience across inpatient and outpatient mental health settings. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) certification from Rush University in 2017, after completing her bachelor’s in biology with a minor in psychology at Illinois College. Alessandra teaches in both the RN and LPN programs at Harper, where she emphasizes mental health awareness, compassionate care, and holistic well-being.