Peer Practice Sessions
Join us for our free virtual Peer Practice Sessions, where you’ll have the unique opportunity to collaborate with your peers and work directly with national trainers. This immersive experience is designed to build your skills and grow your confidence with the Mental Health First Aid model. Each in-depth practice session spans 1.5 hours and is thoughtfully organized by curriculum, delivery mode, and segment.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, enhance your skills, and amplify your impact. Together, we can make our community healthier, happier, and safer for all.
Sessions hosted by the Mental Health Association of Maryland are only able to serve those who live or work in the state of Maryland.
Consistencies: Building Strong Teaching Partnerships
The Consistencies Sheet is a valuable tool designed to help Mental Health First Aid Instructors collaborate effectively before their first co-facilitated training with a new partner. By working through a series of guided questions, instructors can establish clear communication, align on teaching styles, and ensure consistency in delivering key program elements.
This form fosters open dialogue on key topics such as:
- Teaching flow and feedback preferences
- Managing different training scenarios
- Approaches to participant engagement
By completing the Consistencies Sheet, instructors can build a strong, cohesive partnership that enhances the learning experience for all participants.
Enhancing Web Accessibility in Online Trainings
The following resources provides practical tips for Instructors to ensure their online trainings are accessible to all participants. While focused on Zoom, these tips are applicable to various platforms like Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, WebEx, and more. By exploring and utilizing accessibility features in advance, instructors can create an inclusive learning environment.
- Zoom Best Practices (PDF)
- Optimizing Performance of Zoom in Low Bandwidth Environments (PDF)
- Zoom Accessibility Features (Link)
Whether you’re using Zoom or another platform, these tips will help you make your trainings more accessible, engaging, and effective for everyone.
Stay Updated! New MHFA Research Coming Out of Maryland
Sept 2023: Mental Health First Aid Training in Rural Maryland during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Program Implementation through Virtual Delivery (University of Maryland, College Park)
Nov 2023: Effectiveness of teen Mental Health First Aid in Improving Teen-to-Teen Support Among American Adolescents (Johns Hopkins University)
Mar 2024: Dr. Jodi Frey on Transforming Workplace Wellbeing (University of Maryland, Baltimore)
Oct 2024: Emotional Experiences of Mental Health First Aid Trainees: A Qualitative Study (University of Maryland, College Park)