Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructors

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.

YMHFA is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. To learn more, download the Mental Health First Aid for Youth one-pager.

You must first complete Youth Mental Health First Aider training before applying to become a YMHFA Instructor. Once certified, instructors will lead YMHFA trainings, using a structured action plan to guide participants in identifying warning signs of mental health and substance use challenges, providing help in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and accessing additional support resources. The Southern Alliance covers the cost of this training.

Have you completed the YMHFA Instructor training?

Be sure to upload your certification and paperwork.

FAQs

  • Before you can apply for Instructor training, you must first earn your Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) certificate.

    YMHFA courses teach adult learners how to assist adolescents ages 12-18.

    Register for a class to earn YMHFA certification.

  • • The Instructor Certification Process includes completing an application (10-15 minutes), self-paced pre-work (approximately 8 hours), a 3-day Instructor-Led Training, and self-paced post work (around 2 hours). The 3-day remote training is presented by MHFA National Trainers who provide in-depth instruction on facilitating the curriculum.

    • Certification is not guaranteed for all participants. To become certified, participants must complete all online course work, be present for the entire training, and satisfactorily deliver a teach-back presentation the third day of training (graded by the MHFA National Trainers).

    • The Instructor Trainings are currently all remote and are offered on an ongoing basis, year-round. The schedule is released one month at a time, one month in advance. View upcoming trainings on the Instructor Training Schedule PDF, but please note that this schedule does not update as classes fill. The current, up-to-date schedule is only viewable by Instructor Candidates who have completed an Instructor Application in MHFA Connect and activated their Storefront account.

  • The training will be virtual, and you must complete up to 8 hours of self-paced pre-work, before the first day of actual training.

    The online training session (live) will be conducted over 3 consecutive days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the respective time zones.Participants will also complete 2 hours of post-work after the live training.

    Only after completion of post-work will the candidate receive full instructor credentials and a certificate.

    Even though there is no academic requirement to apply to become an instructor, the candidates are expected to have knowledge of mental health problems.

  • Once certified, Instructors must teach the course at least three times per year to maintain their certification.

  • The Southern Alliance has funding to cover the full cost of Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor Training.