What is Mental Health First Aid?

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Mental Health First Aid is a research-validated training program from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. 

You do not need to be a mental health professional to become a Mental Health First Aider. The training is designed to help people from all walks of life offer appropriate support for those who may be suffering from a mental health concern. You will learn appropriate ways to support others and when/how to refer people to trained professionals.

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Trainings at Heritage

 

Mental Health First Aid training is free as a service to the community.  

The training includes: 

• A brief pre-work assignment due the day before the training begins 

• A day-long (8 hours) in-person training in Decatur 

• Training materials to take home 

• An online final assessment to complete your certification

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Requirements

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• Anyone over the age of 18 can participate.  

• There is no prior education or career requirement. Mental Health Frist Aid is for everyone!   

• Classes must have a minimum of 5 participants and a maximum of 30, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Classes that do not meet the minimum participation will be cancelled. Once the class is full, new registrants will be placed on a waiting list for the next available date. 

• Those who sign up for the class must commit to the following:

  • Complete pre-work by 5:00 p.m. the Monday before class

  • Attend and participate actively in at least 90% of the in-person training

  • Complete the final assessment and course evaluation within three days of training

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Training Schedule and Location

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Upcoming Dates:

• September 1, 2026 (Register by August 25)

• October 6, 2026 (Register by September 29)

• November 3, 2026 (Register by October 27)

• December 1, 2026 (Register by November 24)

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2027 dates will be posted at a later date.

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Location: 

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St. Mary’s Hospital
1800 E Lake Shore Dr.
Decatur, IL 62521

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ris1wPTDE1w785UMA

We will use the Assisi Room at St. Mary’s. There is a cafeteria near this room, so you can purchase meals and snacks there if you prefer.  

How to Sign Up

 

Email the following information to mhfa@heritagenet.com at least one week prior to the scheduled training:  

• Name (first and last)

• Email (required)

• Phone Number

• Organization

 

Note to Heritage employees: If you do not use your Heritage email to sign up, please let us know you are a Heritage employee for internal documentation.

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Individuals are asked to only sign up for themselves and not others. If you need to register multiple people from your organization, please contact us first for approval to ensure we have space.

  

Please be aware that signing up by the deadline does not guarantee you a seat in the training. Once the course has 30 participants registered, others will be placed on a waiting list for future training dates.

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You will receive a confirmation email with instructions for completing the pre-work once you sign up for the class. We make every attempt to respond by the next business day.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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What will I learn in this course? 

You will learn the Mental Health First Aid Action plan, which will help empower you to: 

• Identify common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges.  

• Recognize common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges.  

• Know how to interact with a person in crisis.  

• Understand how to connect a person with help.  

• Develop your understanding of trauma, substance use and self-care.

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I missed the deadline. Can I sign up late? 

This may be possible, on a case-by-case basis. Contact us at mhfa@heritagenet.org to inquire.

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Will I be a mental health professional after completing this course? 

This course does not train you to be a mental health professional. It trains you to know the proper limitations of what you can do for someone who’s in a mental health crisis situation, and when you should help them find a trained professional.

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Will this course help me with my own mental health concerns? 

While you may develop deeper insight into mental health conditions, it is not designed to be a therapeutic activity. It is an educational program, and should not be considered a substitute for the help of a qualified professional.

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Will I be expected to talk about my own mental health journey at the training? 

We do not expect this of participants. We respect your privacy.

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Is this training a replacement for professional help? 

No, it is not. This is an educational program, not a therapeutic one.

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Is this a substance use recovery program? 

No. MHFA can help you give the best support to someone with a substance use challenge, but it is not a substance use recovery program.  Instead, MHFA teaches you how to provide early support, called early intervention. This means spotting the warning signs of mental health or substance use challenges and taking action before things get worse. 

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Who teaches this course? 

Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructors teach the course. Many are also employed at Heritage Behavioral Health Center, but some may be trusted community partners who have undergone rigorous training to become a certified instructor.

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Is it really free?

It really is! We have made a commitment to find funding sources to make this available to the community.

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Can you come to my organization to teach Mental Health First Aid specifically for us?

Yes, this is possible. Please contact us with your request and we will do our best to accommodate your organization.

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Are other trainings available from Heritage?

Yes. We offer a variety of training programs free of charge to the community. Find more information here