College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Counseling and Wellness Services department is proud to announce 15 CWI employees are now certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructors thanks to funding through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II).
MHFA, a course provided through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, teaches individuals skills necessary to help someone who may be developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. This research and evidence based program promotes mental health literacy to help the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness. The course introduces participants to the MHFA Action Plan, ALGEE, a five-step plan that can be used to provide support to someone in distress. Additionally, participants learn the risk factors and warning signs for mental health or substance abuse, engage in experiential activities to build understanding of the impact of illness on individuals and families, and discuss evidence-supported treatment and self-help strategies.
“Having College employees trained to offer assistance in a mental health situation is an important step in creating a culture of care on the CWI campus and in our communities,” said Jodi Hickenlooper, Assistant Director of Counseling and Wellness Services. “As certified MHFA instructors, these individuals will be able to share their expertise in mental health to provide training to fellow faculty and staff members on an ongoing basis, which we are very excited about.”
CWI employees interested in MHFA training are encouraged to register for virtual and in-person sessions scheduled throughout spring semester.
Contact Jodi Hickenlooper at jodihickenlooper@cwi.edu with questions or to learn more.
