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Lake County, Ill. — The Lake County Health Department is seeking passionate people to become Mental Health First Aid USA instructors and help fight the stigma surrounding mental health. Approved applicants must attend the three-day instructor training held January 28-30, 2026, at the Lake County Health Department, 3010 Grand Avenue, Waukegan.
“It is an unfortunate truth that depression and anxiety are common in the United States,” said Chris Hoff, Executive Director of the Lake County Health Department. “Through Mental Health First Aid, we are equipping our community to readily help those experiencing a mental health crisis.”
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 $2,000 per person, but is being offered for free to qualified applicants. In exchange, individuals who take the course agree to teach three eight-hour Mental Health First Aid classes in 2026.
To learn more and apply, visit www.mentalhealth.today/instructor or email info@mentalhealth.today. Applications are due December 12, 2025.
To be considered for certification, candidates must possess empathy towards individuals with behavioral health challenges and 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 (SAMHSA), 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 eight-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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