Mental Health Association of Maryland Launches 1-Year Community College Mental Health First Aid Initiative in Partnership with Maryland Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration
The Mental Health Association of Maryland (MHAMD), in partnership with the Maryland Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration, is excited to announce the launch of a new 1-Year Community College Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Initiative, designed to strengthen mental health support across Maryland’s community colleges. Building on the success of MHAMD’s HBCU initiative, this program will provide vital training resources to faculty, staff, and students, helping to create a more supportive campus environment.
The initiative, running now through June 30, 2025, will focus on empowering community college campuses by offering MHFA instructor training, class delivery support, and monthly virtual classes. These resources aim to enhance mental health awareness and intervention skills across campuses, benefiting students, faculty, and staff alike.
Program Benefits:
- Increase Learner Mental Health Literacy: Equip students, faculty, and staff with the knowledge to recognize and respond to mental health and substance use challenges.
- Boost Confidence and Likelihood to Intervene: Empower participants to take action when they encounter mental health issues, fostering a more supportive and responsive campus environment.
- Kickstart Ongoing MHFA Programs on Campus: Establish a sustainable MHFA training program where instructors embedded on campus remain certified and continue delivering training even after the initiative concludes.
How It Works:
Participating colleges will receive support to deliver three MHFA classes on campus during the initiative, with additional monthly virtual classes available to the broader community college network. Instructors trained through this program will be expected to conduct a minimum of three classes annually to maintain their certification.
Colleges are asked to designate a point of contact to support program implementation, develop or provide a campus/community resource list for MHFA trainings, and create sustainability plans to continue the program beyond the grant period. Regular updates on the classes conducted will also be required for tracking and reporting purposes.
Get Involved:
To learn more about the initiative or to schedule an initial planning call, please contact us or schedule a meeting through the following link: [Calendar Link]. If you are not the primary contact for this type of programming, please feel free to forward this information to the appropriate person on your campus.
About MHAMD:
The Mental Health Association of Maryland (MHAMD) is the state’s oldest and largest mental health advocacy organization, committed to improving mental health for all Marylanders through education, advocacy, and services.
About the Maryland Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration:
The Maryland Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration works to improve the health and well-being of Marylanders by promoting wellness, preventing illness, and providing comprehensive, coordinated, and effective care for those affected by mental health and substance use disorders.