Essentials Certification (Supporting Youth)

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training provides the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to support a person who may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being, a mental health or substance use crisis until professional help is available.

The practical skills of MHFA help you develop the confidence and peace of mind knowing you can support those around you, and your ability to self-care and prioritize your well-being while supporting others.

Implemented in 35 nations worldwide and with over 8 million people trained, MHFA is a global movement.

MHFA Essentials is a suite of courses, focused on core knowledge and practical skills. The courses do not lead to Certification. Within the Essentials suite is a streamlined one-day course as well as adaptations to support unique populations and specific roles, including:

Designed to be accessible and applicable across many settings, Essentials offers a strong foundation in MHFA principles without formal assessment or certification—making it an ideal option for individuals, teams, or communities seeking meaningful, time-efficient training.

Through the course, participants will:

that a young person may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health or substance use crisis

Discuss professional and other supports that could help with recovery to improved mental well-being

that encourage a young person to talk about a mental health or substance use problem

In a mental health or substance use crisis situation

Course structured for impact

This 10-hour course opens with a self-directed module (Module 1) that focuses on the information and strategies that participants will discuss and practise throughout the virtual classroom modules (Modules 2 and 3). Upon registration, participants receive a link to the “MHFA Reference Guide” that outlines MHFA actions for developing mental health and substance use problems, and mental health crises.

Module 1

Self-Directed (2 Hours):
Introduction to MHFA • Introduction to MHFA Actions – ALGEES • The role of a first aider • Key knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours • Impact of stigma on mental well-being • The range of changes that may indicate a decline in mental well-being • Risk factors and protective factors that influence mental well-being • Activity: Use the information in this module to create a Persona of a young person you are likely to encounter

Module 2

Live Classroom (4 hours):
MHFA for Declining Mental Well-Being • Assessing the situation
• Communicating respectfully (includes communicating with people from diverse cultures and with members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community) • Case studies • Review activity: Use what you have learned to support the Persona created in Module 1 Module

Module 3

Live Classroom (4 hours):
MHFA for Mental Health and Substance Use Crisis Situations
• Responding to possible challenges
• Recognizing possible signs of a crisis
• MHFA actions in a crisis • Case studies • Using MHFA actions (ALGEES) for your own self-care

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Amanda Coombs is a certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor who combines professional expertise with personal lived experience. She teaches MHFA courses through an anti‑oppressive, trauma‑informed lens, intentionally creating safe, inclusive and engaging learning spaces for participants from diverse backgrounds.

Essentials Certification (Supporting Youth)

Implemented in 35 nations worldwide and with over 8 million people trained, MHFA is a global movement.

Through the course, participants will:

Recognize signs

Discuss Support

Initiate Conversations

Assist

Course structured for impact

Module 1

Module 2

Module 3

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