Why Mental Health First Aid?

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults.

When and Where:

• Date: Saturday, November 1st, 2025

• Location: TBD

• Time: TBD

Who Needs to Know MHFA?

• Employers

• Police officers

• Hospital staff

• First responders

• Caring individuals

Why It Matters

Sources: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (n.d.). Suicide statistics. https://afsp.org/suicide-statistics/ ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.) Drug overdose deaths. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/deaths/index.html ; National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (n.d.). Mental illness. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness

What You’ll Learn: The MHFA Action Plan (ALGEE)

• Assess for risk of suicide or harm

• Listen nonjudgmentally

• Give reassurance and information

• Encourage appropriate professional help

• Encourage self-help

About your Host: Anita Kinsley

Anita Kinsley has spent a lifetime providing or teaching within the behavioral health system. Through her multiple roles of direct service worker, administrator, or teacher it was clear to Anita that Behavioral Health challenges were not a failure of the person but rather a failure of a service system, community, and nation. Advocating for those who experience mental health and substance abuse challenges is one of Anita’s lifetime endeavors. Teaching Mental Health First Aid unites two areas of expertise, advocacy, and teaching. An added passion of Ms. Kinsley is racial and social justice. Anita has co-facilitated several Sacred Ground classes and contributed to the establishment and ongoing work of church commissions focused on antiracism and social justice. Anita’s actions are guided by the late John Lewis’ statement, “It’s always time for good trouble.”