Mental Health First Aid

Community Skills Support

Most of us would know how to help if we saw someone having a heart attack; we’d perform first aid and call 911. However, not as many of us would know how to respond if we saw someone having a panic attack or showing signs of substance use challenges. Mental Health First Aid equips individuals and teams with the skills to recognize signs of mental health challenges and provide initial support when it matters most. Join more than 4.5 million certified Mental Health First Aiders and gain the skills to support those around you with confidence.

What You'll Learn

At the core of Mental Health First Aid is the ALGEE Action Plan.

It's a simple, effective framework for helping someone who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. You will learn how to use the ALGEE Action Plan in both crisis and non-crisis situations, ensuring that individuals receive the appropriate level of support based on their specific needs.

The ALGEE Action Plan

Tap a letter to learn what it means.

A
Approach
Approach and assess for risk of suicide or harm.
This step will teach you to recognize when something might be wrong and decide to reach out. That might look like noticing changes in someone’s mood, energy, or behavior.
This framework is about support and connection — not diagnosis.

Upcoming Trainings

Adult Mental Health First Aid Training

View upcoming public Mental Health First Aid trainings, registration details, and private training options. Whether you're looking to get certified yourself or bring MHFA to your organization, all current training opportunities can be found here.

View Available Trainings

Mental Health Resources

Tools, thoughts, and support you can always come back to.

Mental health is health and, just like physical health, it isn’t something you “fix” once and move on from.

This space exists to reduce stigma and make support feel more approachable — whether you’re checking in with yourself, supporting someone else, or just needing a reset.

Start with awareness

Noticing is not diagnosing

Mental Health First Aid begins with awareness — paying attention to changes in thoughts, feelings, behaviors, or physical sensations without jumping to conclusions.

You don’t need a label to take your experience seriously. Noticing is enough to pause, check in, and respond with care.

You don’t need to know what’s “wrong” to know something deserves attention.
Supporting someone else

You don’t need the perfect words

You don’t have to be an expert to help. MHFA focuses on listening without judgment, validating feelings without trying to fix them, and encouraging appropriate support.

Try saying:
“I’m really glad you told me.”
“That sounds like a lot to carry.”
“You don’t have to go through this alone.”
Simple tools

Small steps you can use anytime

Tool
Name it to tame it
Put words to what you’re experiencing. You’re not trying to fix it — just acknowledging it.
Try: “Right now I’m feeling ___ because ___.”
Tool
Regulate before you react
When emotions feel intense, start with your body. Slow your breathing and create space to respond.
Try: Inhale gently. Exhale a little longer than you inhale. Repeat a few times.
Tool
Shrink the next step
Instead of asking “How do I fix this?”, choose one small supportive action you can do next.
Ask: “What’s one small thing I can do in the next 10 minutes to support myself?”
These resources are educational and supportive — not medical advice. Use what helps, skip what doesn’t. If you’re worried about yourself or someone else, reaching out for professional support is a strong next step.
If things feel urgent

You deserve immediate support

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or feels unsafe, contact local emergency services right away.

If you’re in the U.S., you can call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or visit 988lifeline.org for confidential support.

Enjoy the walk on and off the course.