Nearly 90 College of Western Idaho (CWI) faculty and staff were trained in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) this spring thanks to the expertise of fifteen CWI employees, certified as MHFA Instructors. Trainings, available to all College employees, will continue through the summer and on an ongoing basis.
MHFA Instructors have had a great experience engaging with staff and faculty on the topic of mental health, and feedback from participants has been positive.
“Bringing MHFA training to CWI employees is about creating a culture of caring on our campuses,” said Jodi Hickenlooper, Assistant Director of Counseling and Wellness Services. “We hope to see staff from every campus department get trained because a culture of caring is about everyone.”
MHFA training consists of online modules completed in advance of the training date and either a Zoom or in-person meeting to practice the action plan. Gaining skills in non-judgmental listening, empowering people to promote help-seeking skills, and reducing stigma around mental health challenges, participants will enter a community of helpers at the College upon completion.
“I am so grateful to know more people at CWI will have this basic, but crucial, training to know how to intervene,” said a participant.
All CWI employees are encouraged to participate in this important and beneficial training, and summer is a great time to do so!
