Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) trainings teach how to identify, understand, and respond to signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use challenge in others so you can provide initial support and help connect them to appropriate care and resources.
MHFA trainings are evidence-based, nonclinical, skills-focused courses designed for general adult audiences. MHFA is a nationally accredited certification training licensed through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, federally supported by SAMHSA, and taught by certified MHFA instructors from Sweetser.
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Adult Mental Health First Aid
Adult MHFA is a skills-based certification training on how to recognize signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use challenge in adults across early, worsening, and crisis stages; how to safely intervene, de-escalate, and offer support; and how to connect someone in need to appropriate mental health resources.
View the flyer to learn more.
Youth MHFA
Youth MHFA is a skills-based certification training on how to recognize signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use challenge in youth and teens across early, worsening, and crisis stages; how to safely intervene, de-escalate, and offer support; and how to connect adolescents in need to appropriate mental health resources.
View the flyer to learn more.
MHFA Training Delivery
All MHFA trainings are 8 hours total, for groups of 5 to 25 participants per training, and are available in three formats:
- Fully In-Person:Â Participants complete all course content in one 8-hour instructed session (including breaks) held at your facility.
- Blended:Â Participants complete 2 hours of self-guided online coursework, followed by one 6-hour instructed session (including breaks) held at your facility or virtually via webinar.
- Virtual: Participants complete 2 hours of self-guided online coursework, followed by one 6-hour instructed session (including breaks) held virtually via webinar.
Instructed sessions of any MHFA training format can be divided into two shorter sessions held no more than 7 days apart, if needed.
PLEASE NOTE:Â MHFA training can be credited on completion as 7.5 professional development hours. MHFA training is not eligible for credit as continuing education units (CEUs) or Contact Hours.
Contact Us
Is your group interested in hosting a FREE mental health awareness training?
Please fill out our Training Request form and our Training Coordinator will be in touch!
For other inquiries, please email the Sweetser Training Institute team at Training@Sweetser.org.
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19May
Adult Mental Health First Aid Training (In-Person)
1 day, 10:00 AM - 06:00 PMFREE Adult Mental Health First Aid Training- Free
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03Jun
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training (In-Person)
1 day, 10:00 AM - 06:00 PMFREE Youth MHFA Certification Training @ Sanford Community Adult Education- Free
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10Jul
Adult Mental Health First Aid Training (In-Person, 2-Session)
SanfordFriday July 10 & Friday July 17, 2026. at 9:00am-1:00pm both daysFREE Adult Mental Health First Aid TrainingSessions
Session 1 of 2
Fri 10 Jul 09:00 - Fri 10 Jul 13:00SanfordSession 2 of 2
Fri 17 Jul 09:00 - Fri 17 Jul 13:00Sanford- Free
