Student and employee sessions are offered in person or via Zoom

Inver Hills Community College and Dakota County Technical College are offering Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training sessions for students, staff, faculty, and administrators as well as DCTC Nursing students at various times and dates in September, October, and December 2023 and January 2024 at both Inver Hills (students and employees) and DCTC (Nursing students, Room 1-311), and virtually via Zoom. Complete the MHFA Sign Up Form for details.

MHFA is managed, operated, and disseminated by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, which reports: “Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.”

Alexis Nordling, DCTC Student Senate vice president and a student ambassador, attended QPR Suicide Prevention and Mental Health First Aid trainings at the college. She was impressed by both.

“I highly recommended these!” Alexis said. “I learned so much about self-care at the Mental Health First Aid trainings, unexpectedly, and QPR is especially important for breaking stigmas and misinformation around suicide. It may be intimidating or seem like too much work, but learning about mental wellness is about healing our whole community.”