As mental health challenges continue to rise across communities, educators are emphasizing the importance of everyday people knowing how to recognize and respond to someone in need. Tessa Hobbs-Curley, Family Life Educator with the University of Illinois Extension, says Mental Health First Aid training is one valuable tool.
“As a Mental Health First Aider, you want to be helpful, and you want to recognize what you can do in your community,” Hobbs-Curley says. “If you see somebody with a mental health challenge, you learn what resources are out there and how you can be supportive. You don’t have to be a therapist; you don’t have to diagnose. That’s not what adult Mental Health First Aid is—but it’s about being an active participant in our community.”
To sign up for a Mental Health First Aid course or to request a group training, contact your local Extension office.
