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CORRECTED: A previous version of this press release was sent in error.
Health Department Seeks Adult Mental Health First Aid Instructors
Interested individuals should apply today at mentalhealth.today!
Waukegan, Ill. — The Lake County Health Department is seeking passionate people to become Adult Mental Health First Aid USA instructors and help fight the stigma surrounding mental health. Approved applicants must attend the three-day instructor training held November 1 - November 3, 2023 at the Lake County Health Department in Waukegan.
"Nearly one in five U.S. adults live with mental health illness,” said Sam Johnson, Director of Behavioral Health. “Learning how to properly support those who are experiencing a mental health crisis can improve the health and well-being of our community."
Approved instructors learn how to teach the Adult Mental Health First Aid course, including the five-step action plan, evidence-supported treatment, and self-help strategies. Instructor training normally costs $2,200 per person but is being offered for free to qualified applicants. In exchange, individuals who take the course agree to teach a minimum of three Adult Mental Health First Aid classes in the year following the training to Lake County Health Department approved groups.
To learn more and apply, visit www.mentalhealth.today and email the pdf application to info@mentalhealth.today. Applications are due August 31, 2023.
To be considered for certification, candidates must possess empathy towards individuals with behavioral health challenges and should have enthusiasm to reduce stigma associated with mental illness. Applicants should also have:
- A general knowledge of mental health and substance use issues
- Experience teaching adults and facilitating groups
- Understanding of best practices in adult learning
In 2021, the Health Department received a five year grant extension from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help expand and improve Lake County’s Mental Health First Aid training initiatives. Through the grant, the Health Department is training 80 individuals to become instructors. In turn, those individuals will train 1,440 community members.
About the Lake County Health Department: The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center is a county health department, a federally qualified health center (FQHC) and a direct provider of behavioral health services to residents of Lake County, Illinois. The Health Department’s mission is promoting the health and well-being of all who live, work, and play in Lake County. To accomplish this mission, the Health Department works closely with community partners to address the social, economic, and environmental causes of health inequity. For more information, visit health.lakecountyil.gov.
About Mental Health First Aid USA: Mental Health First Aid USA is an 8-hour training to teach participants how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it helps trainees identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders
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