Identify. Understand. Respond.

Mental Health First Aid is a 8 hour skills-based certification program that teaches participants about mental health and substance-use issues.

The peer-reviewed studies conducted show that individuals trained in the program:

• Increase their knowledge of signs, symptoms and risk factors of mental health and substance use challenges.
• Can identify multiple types of professional and self-help resources for individuals with a mental health or substance use challenge.
• Show reduced stigma and increased empathy toward individuals with mental health challenges.
• Increase their confidence and likelihood to help an individual in distress.
• Use the skills and information they learn in MHFA to manage their own mental wellbeing.

The Town of Chapel Hill offers FREE certification training to all Town employees.  Training is provided by town employees who are certified Mental Health First Aid instructors. 

Browse our list of local resources to help with various needs. 

NEW!   UPCOMING CERTIFICATION CLASSES 

Who can Attend?    Open to all Town Employees 

Class and Preparation time are paid work time.  Check with your supervisor for permission to attend the class.     

VIRTUAL OPTION     September 17 and 18th, 2024    1pm--4pm each day. 

This class is interactive!  You'll need a private space, and tech that has a working camera and microphone.   A smart phone works fine, but if you want to use a laptop, let us know and we will try to source one for you.   We encourage people to take this class as part of a work from home day if possible.     We will have regular breaks, but this class will need your full attention.  

Must attend both classes to be certified.  

Class requires about 1.5 hours of preparation time before the first day of class.  

IN PERSON OPTION   Wednesday, November 13, 2024  9 am to 4 pm

Place to be determined.   

Class requires about 1/5 hours of preparation time before the class starts. 

Sign Up

How to register? 

Contact abadrock@townofchapelhill.org or at 919-260-3153 for more information and to register.