Mental Health Education
Certificate
PROGRAM SNAPSHOT
Reduce the stigma and open the dialogue about mental health concerns. Learn to notice and respond to elevated mental and emotional health behaviors in a meaningful way.
Study Mental Health Education at Winona State
Mental health matters now more than ever.
In the U.S., one in 5 adults and one in 7 youth experience a diagnosable mental illness each year.
Whether it’s a classmate, co-worker, family member, or friend, you’ll be close to someone dealing with mental health challenges. Knowing how to help can make a big difference.
Winona State’s Mental Health Education (MHED) graduate certificate gives you the tools to notice early signs of mental or emotional distress and to respond in a more confident, caring, and effective way.
In this program, you’ll practice real-life conversations about difficult topics.
You’ll learn about methods for connecting with people from diverse backgrounds, sharing helpful resources, and advocating for change.
You’ll also learn how to create environments that are mental health-friendly in big and small ways.
If you want to grow the skills and confidence to speak up, support others, and create healthier spaces in your school, workplace, or community—then this program is for you.
Together, with appropriate education and resources, we can make our world a better place.
The Mental Health Education graduate certificate is available through the Health, Exercise & Rehabilitative Sciences (HERS) Department.
for MHED students taking the adult and youth Mental Health First Aid certification exams through the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and National Council for Behavioral Health.
Because Winona State is an ACE University, students get a discounted rate for the American Council on Exercise (ACE) Health Coach certification exam.
What You’ll Learn as a Mental Health Education Student
As a Mental Health Education student, you’ll learn how to make a positive impact on the holistic health of your personal and professional lives.
You’ll also:
- learn mental health fundamentals and issues common in schools and organizations.
- explore the role of technology in delivering mental health services and resources.
- design and implement effective mental health interventions for diverse populations.
- build inclusive and supportive environments that prioritize mental well-being.
- gain skills to assess the impact of mental health programs and initiatives.
Program Highlights
Coursework is delivered mostly online, making the Mental Health Education program perfect for anyone who wants to fit their education into their busy lives.
With asynchronous classes, you can complete your assignments anytime, anywhere.
You’ll also attend 2 in-person sessions on the Winona campus to earn your Mental Health First Aid certifications. These sessions are 8 hours each.
Be one step closer to becoming a mental health advocate by getting the real-world preparation you need along with your certificate.
This program’s curriculum prepares you to earn Mental Health First Aid adult and child certifications through the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
You’ll learn how to recognize early signs and symptoms. You’ll also learn the steps to effectively refer people to appropriate support services.
And this program embeds the American Council on Exercise (ACE) Health Coach Certification materials right into its curriculum. This means that you’ll be prepared to sit for this exam after completing all your coursework.
As a student in this graduate program, you’ll help make a real-world company, school, or organization of your choosing more mental health-friendly by identifying strengths, gaps, and themes.
You’ll then develop actionable approaches to improve mental health outcomes within your sphere of influence.
This project serves as an excellent opportunity for students to get hands-on experience using nationally recognized needs assessment tools from the CDC.
Hear from Mental Health Education Alumni
Careers & Outcomes
Everyone communicates with other people somehow or some way within the workplace.
The knowledge and certifications that you earn in the Mental Health Education program will set you apart from your peers, regardless of your industry or profession.
for Health Education Specialists
for Social & Community Service Managers
Learn more about what careers are possible with this graduate certificate and where our alumni have applied it after graduation:
Certificate
Certificate, Professional Training
Certificate