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Be the Difference

Support those who are in crisis or in need of help

What is Mental Health First Aid?

Purdue Extension has delivered over 100 Mental Health First Aid courses since 2018,

training more than 1,500 individuals.

Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based program to educate individuals about how to interact with and support someone who may be experiencing a mental health issue or a crisis. 

Like CPR, Mental Health First Aid helps participants feel confident providing assistance and support to someone in distress.

Purdue Extension's Mental Health First Aid instructors are certified

by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing

Purdue Extension can bring this often life-saving course to your community, organization, or business. No prior training is required to participate.

Find A Course

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Adult Mental Health First Aid

Trains adults who want to help other adults

  • Introduces common mental health challenges and contexts
  • Reviews safe action planning steps
  • Covered topics include:
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Suicidality
    • Substance use
    • Psychosis
    • Trauma
    • Self-care
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thinking teen

Youth Mental Health First Aid

  • Trains ADULTS who interact with elementary through high school aged youth
  • Introduces common mental health challenges for young people
  • Reviews safe action planning steps
  • Covered topics include:
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Substance use
    • Psychosis
    • Trauma and Resilience
    • Self-care

Purdue Extension offers Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid courses in person at various Indiana counties, as well as virtual courses through Zoom. Please review the list of currently scheduled courses available for signup, and check back often to see new offerings. Registration is required to attend.

To inquire about hosting a course in your area, please Contact Us.

What Do I Learn?

Mental Health First Aid helps participants:

  • Recognize the signs and symptoms of several mental health issues
  • Gain new perspectives about the stigma surrounding mental health struggles
  • Learn how to start conversations with those at risk and to encourage them to seek help
  • Understand how to connect someone with appropriate professional and community resources
  • Identify adaptive coping strategies and establish a self-care action plan

For more information about Mental Health First Aid, visit: www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org

Who Should Attend?

Mental Health First Aid is open to any adult who is interested to learn. No prior training or specific education is needed, and all experiences are welcome. Frequent attendees have included concerned family members and friends, faith-based leaders, farmers, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, school personnel, and veterinary providers.

Earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs):

Mental Health First Aid can offer contact continuing education hours for certain professionals. Purdue University is an approved provider of Category 1 Continuing Education for all of the following pursuant to Indiana Code 25-1-4-0.2:

    • Mental Health Counselors and Associates
    • Marriage and Family Therapists and Associates
    • Social Workers, Clinical Social Workers and Associates
    • Addiction Counselors, Clinical Addiction Counselors and Associates

All participants receive a certificate upon completion of the full course. 

Featured Stories

Mental Health Matters

It’s 11:30 a.m. and two coworkers sit down to lunch. One confesses he is going through a divorce and is struggling to cope. After strategic questions and lots of listening, his coworker suspects he may be suffering from depression. She reassures him that it’s common to have these feelings during major life changes, encourages him to spend time with supportive friends, and to seek professional help.

Hear participant testimony:

Meet Our Instructors

Purdue Extension's Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructors are based throughout Indiana and

can teach courses in-person or virtually.

Our instructors come from a variety of backgrounds, including different Purdue Extension program areas.

Please reach out to any of our instructors with questions regarding program options.

ADULT MHFA INSTRUCTOR TEAM

GINA ANDERSON - Floyd County

PROGRAM AREAS: Agriculture & Natural Resources, Community Development

CONTACT: gmanders@purdue.edu

TESSA GARROW - campus

PROGRAM AREA: Health & Human Sciences

CONTACT: tgarrow@purdue.edu

Tessa Garrow headshot

MANDY GRAY - Hancock County

PROGRAM AREA: Health & Human Sciences

CONTACT: gray89@purdue.edu

Mandy Gray headshot

KELLY HECKAMAN - Kosciusko County

PROGRAM AREA: Agriculture & Natural Resources

CONTACT: kheckaman@purdue.edu

JANE HORNER - Cass County

PROGRAM AREA: Health & Human Sciences

CONTACT: horner8@purdue.edu

MOLLY HUNT - Delaware County

PROGRAM AREA: Health & Human Sciences

CONTACT: hunt55@purdue.edu

JESSICA MARTINI - Jefferson County

PROGRAM AREA: Health & Human Sciences

CONTACT: koons0@purdue.edu

KELSEY MEYERS - Henry County

PROGRAM AREAS: 4-H , Health & Human Sciences

CONTACT: meyers27@purdue.edu

Kelsey Meyers headshot

OLIVIA MORGAN - Clay County

PROGRAM AREA: Health & Human Sciences

CONTACT: onmorgan@purdue.edu

Olivia Morgan headshot

MARCIA PARCELL- Dearborn County

PROGRAM AREA: Health & Human Sciences

CONTACT: mparcell@purdue.edu

MEAGAN SALOMON - Vanderburgh County

PROGRAM AREA: Health & Human Sciences

CONTACT: brotherm@purdue.edu

Meagan Salomon headshot

TONYA SHORT - Knox County

PROGRAM AREA: Health & Human Sciences

CONTACT: short43@purdue.edu

ANGELA SORG - DeKalb County

PROGRAM AREA: Health & Human Sciences

CONTACT: asorg18@purdue.edu

STEPHANIE WOODCOX - Administration

PROGRAM AREA: Health & Human Sciences

CONTACT: swoodcox@purdue.edu

YOUTH MHFA INSTRUCTOR TEAM

JENNIFER ABRELL - Owen County

PROGRAM AREA: 4-H

CONTACT: jlabrell@purdue.edu

BRITT COPELAND - Brown County

PROGRAM AREA: 4-H

CONTACT: copelanb@purdue.edu

ALICIA CRISWELL - Wayne County

PROGRAM AREA: 4-H

CONTACT: acriswel@purdue.edu

ANGIE FROST - campus

PROGRAM AREA: 4-H

CONTACT: alfrost@purdue.edu

MEGAN HOFFHERR - Vanderburgh County

PROGRAM AREA: 4-H

CONTACT: mkron@purdue.edu

CARLA KIDWELL - Warrick County

PROGRAM AREA: 4-H

CONTACT: kidwellc@purdue.edu

JENNIFER MAYO - Spencer County

PROGRAM AREA: 4-H

CONTACT: allen393@purdue.edu

KELSEY MEYERS - Henry County

PROGRAM AREAS: 4-H, Health & Human Sciences

CONTACT: meyers27@purdue.edu

Kelsey Meyers headshot

KELSIE MULLER - campus

PROGRAM AREA: Health & Human Sciences

CONTACT: kmuller@purdue.edu

AMY RUMSCHLAG - Adams County

PROGRAM AREA: 4-H

CONTACT: amyjohnson@purdue.edu

RACHAEL SMITH - Marion County

PROGRAM AREA: 4-H

CONTACT: smith630@purdue.edu