What to Expect: Mental Health First Aid Training

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue) recently offered Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to individuals who have signed our Stigma-Free AZ pledge and committed to breaking the stigma around behavioral health. We emailed all pledge signers, and the first 30 to enroll were given the opportunity to become certified in MHFA!

AZ Blue offered this training at no cost so more Arizonans in our communities can identify, understand, and respond to a mental health crisis.

What is Mental Health First Aid training?

Many know how to administer first aid/CPR when someone is experiencing a medical emergency. What should we do when someone is having a behavioral health crisis and is suicidal, anxious, or depressed? How can we tell if they need help – and then offer it to them? MHFA training teaches you the signs of a mental health crisis, so you can give initial support to a person in immediate need of help until professionals become involved.

• Recognize risk factors and warning signs for mental health concerns.
• Respond effectively to people in crisis and non-crisis situations.
• Know where to turn for help.

Participation in MHFA training promotes mental health, cultivates resiliency, and even saves lives. Are you interested in getting certified? We sat down for a Q&A with one of our recent MHFA training participants to give you a better understanding of what to expect, even if you do not complete the training through AZ Blue.

Q&A with MHFA training participant

How did you prepare for MHFA training?

AZ Blue set expectations in advance so I knew this was a 6.5-hour virtual session with about two hours of prework. My instructor emailed me the prework weeks before the training so I could set aside time to do it. And you don’t have to complete it in one sitting, which is nice. The prework included modules designed to familiarize you with the content and materials the instructor will cover during the training. The Zoom link for the training was emailed to me a couple days before. AZ Blue communicated very well throughout the process, so I felt prepared!

What was the learning environment like?

It’s a group session, and I loved that we started by getting to know one another. We went around talking about our backgrounds, passions, and what we wanted to be when we were kids. It was a great icebreaker! Mental health can be a heavy topic, but the instructors made it a comfortable and welcoming space to share and ask questions.

What was one of your main takeaways?

I learned SO MUCH! But some statistics the instructors shared stood out. It illustrated how common mental health conditions are, and how easily someone could find themselves in a crisis, especially if the condition is left untreated. It made me realize how vital this training is.

Who do you think can benefit from this training?

EVERYONE! People with different backgrounds and careers attended the training I was in. Anyone can encounter someone who needs mental health help. Knowing how to step in and assist is so important.

Now that you’re a certified Mental Health First Aider, would you know what to do in a crisis?

Yes, I now know how to give initial support. The instructors reminded us throughout the training that initial support does not mean diagnosing or administering anything medically. It means assessing the situation and if it escalates – getting professional help involved. They gave us a list of resources we could share with people, like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. We went over different scenarios and the best ways to respond. I can now identify myself as a Mental Health First Aider and help.

Do you believe the training helps break the stigma?

Absolutely. Understanding the prevalence of mental health and substance use disorder reduces the stigma sometimes attached to these conditions. Being direct instead of tiptoeing around challenges removes the shame often associated. For example, asking someone in crisis a direct question like ‘Are you having thoughts of suicide?’ Open, honest conversations can be lifesaving.

Did the training prove valuable for you?

Very valuable. I feel confident that I could help someone if I ever ran into that situation, and I wish more people knew about this training. I’m retired now but I was a social worker – and this training counts toward Continuing Education Units (CEUs) that are required in that profession. I can’t believe AZ Blue offered this training to me for free, I’m very grateful!

Again, AZ Blue opened this training on a first come first serve basis to those who have taken our Stigma-Free AZ pledge, and we hope to offer more opportunities like this in the future. Sign our Stigma-Free AZ pledge today to help break the stigma in our state: azblue.com/stigmafreeaz.

Get trained

Mental Health First Aid provides training in English and Spanish for adults, youth, teens, first responders, employees, veterans, older adults, and many other groups. If you're interested in taking a course, you can find one at Get Trained « Mental Health First Aid.

AZ Blue offers MHFA training to Arizona businesses and their employees, as well as our own employees. MHFA is one of the critical ways AZ Blue helps Arizonans connect with care and resources.

To learn more, visit: Mental Health First Aid Training is just as important as First Aid/CPR (azblue.com).