At I AM MY COMMUNITY we encourage community members to become certified under the Mental Health First Aid for adults and youth.

 

Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.

 

We understand the importance of information. We also understand how important it is to be one of the first people to respond to a crisis and not know how to assist. Therefore, we're supporting the community members on their journey to becoming certified professionals and change agents. We acknowledge the training and would like for as many people to have this training. With this training our community members are increasing their chances at returning home by becoming equipped with this information and tools to make a better decision. Our community members are also better prepared to assist someone and increase their chances for returning home after a crisis.

 

Increasing the level of understanding for mental health will improve the community and help with reducing gun violence and incarceration in our community. We are hopeful after receiving certificates, our community members will also help to save lives outside of the community and improve the lives of others in other areas.