Mental Health First Aid Instructor Training (Grant Funded)

This training is grant funded and requires candidates to submit an application. Applications for our statewide instructor trainings open twice per year, in November and May, with announcements made in December and June. Candidates are encouraged to apply during the application cycle, and selected applicants will be invited based on their applications. For more information on the application process, visit our Grant Funding page.

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Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is specifically designed for adults supporting other adults, making it a valuable supplemental training for higher education staff/faculty, public service personnel, human resources professionals, behavioral health staff, coaches, other direct service-related roles, and anyone interested in expanding mental health education within Maryland’s communities. This internationally recognized public awareness curriculum reduces stigma around mental health conversations while providing a concrete action plan for addressing both crisis and non-crisis mental health situations, much like how CPR/first aid assists in managing physical health emergencies. MHFA has been proven to increase bystander helping behaviors and improve participants’ mental health literacy—a win-win for everyone involved!

This instructor training is part of a statewide initiative to certify 75 new instructors each year, with priority given to candidates from underrepresented communities, including those able to teach in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, or Khmer, as well as Veterans, Indigenous community members, and others. Instructor training follows a train-the-trainer model, preparing candidates to deliver Mental Health First Aid courses in their own communities or workplaces.

If you have any questions about the expectations and commitment to teaching Mental Health First Aid, please email MHFAtraining@mhamd.org.