{"id":120,"date":"2026-04-27T09:42:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T14:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/live-wsu.pantheonsite.io\/academics\/?page_id=120"},"modified":"2026-04-27T09:42:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T14:42:15","slug":"mental-health-first-aid","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/academics\/adult-continuing-education\/employee-training\/mental-health-first-aid\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental Health First Aid"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"is-style-text-intro\">Learn the signs to watch for and how to support someone who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Around one in five Americans experience a mental health or addiction disorder each year.&nbsp;Do you know what to do when someone near you has a panic attack or is in crisis?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a skills-based, experiential, and evidence-based training program where you learn a <strong>five-step action plan<\/strong> that can be used to help those in need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" type=\"1\">\n<li>Assess for risk of suicide or harm<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Listen non-judgmentally<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Give reassurance and information<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encourage appropriate professional help<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encourage self-help and other support strategies<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Mental Health Matters in the Workplace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>About 10.8 million full-time workers have a substance use disorder<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As many as 35 million workdays are lost each year due to mental illness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Untreated mental illness in the workplace costs businesses $105 billion each year \u2013 mostly due to lost productivity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Benefits of MHFA in the Workplace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Training employees about how to support mental health can help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reduce stigma around mental health issues<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increase employees\u2019 understanding around mental health and substance use<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increase likelihood that employees will reach out to someone who may be facing a mental health or substance use challenge<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teach employees how to connect a distressed person with the appropriate resources, in accordance with company policies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n    <div class=\"panel panel--white\">\n        <div class=\"panel__container\">\n            <div class=\"panel__intro\">\n                        <\/div>\n            \n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flexible Training Formats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The eight-hour course can be scheduled in two-hour or greater blocks of time and held virtually or in-person to fit your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-block tabs\">\n\n    <div class=\"tabs-nav\">\n        <button class=\"tabs__toggle\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" id=\"tabbed-1\">Virtual<\/button>\n<button class=\"tabs__toggle\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" id=\"tabbed-2\">Blended<\/button>\n<button class=\"tabs__toggle\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" id=\"tabbed-3\">In-Person<\/button>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"tabs-content\">\n        <button class=\"tabs__mobile__toggle\">Virtual<\/button>\n<div class=\"tabs__content__item\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><div><p>Participants will start with a two-hour, self-paced online course.<\/p>\n<p>Then an instructor will lead a six-hour video conference to complete the training.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<button class=\"tabs__mobile__toggle\">Blended<\/button>\n<div class=\"tabs__content__item\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><div><p>Participants will start with a two-hour, self-paced online course.<\/p>\n<p>Then an instructor will lead a six-hour in-person class to complete the training.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<button class=\"tabs__mobile__toggle\">In-Person<\/button>\n<div class=\"tabs__content__item\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><div><p>An instructor will lead an eight-hour class for participants in a focused day-long in-person training session.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n    <div class=\"panel panel--white\">\n        <div class=\"panel__container\">\n            <div class=\"panel__intro\">\n                        <\/div>\n            \n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Register Your Team for Mental Health First Aid Training<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Give your team the tools they need to support an individual with mental health concerns in the moment and connect them to additional community resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To set up Mental Health First Aid training in your workplace, contact Julie Kiehne to learn more and discuss options.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-block contact-card mb-1\">\n   <div class=\"contact-card__media\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/04\/WSU-Julie-Kiehne-feature-2026-02-12.jpg\" alt=\"\">\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"contact-card__content\">\n       <div class=\"contact-card__title h4\">\n           Julie Kiehne\n       <\/div>\n       <div class=\"contact-card__subtitle h4\">\n           Business Outreach Coordinator\n       <\/div>\n       <div class=\"contact-card__description\">\n           <p><a href=\"mailto:jkiehne@winona.edu\">jkiehne@winona.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Winona State University | Somsen 209D 507.457.5088<\/p>\n<p>WSU-Rochester on Broadway | 400 South Broadway, Suite 300<br \/>\n507.535.2570<\/p>\n\n       <\/div>\n       <a class=\"wsu-link contact-card__link\"><\/a>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WSU provides employee training for your team to better support mental health and know the signs for concerning mental health or substance use 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