The gift you give yourself, your community, and the world around you - Adult Mental Health First Aid.

Mental health and substance use concerns have understandably skyrocketed in the last several years. It's an overwhelming time for many. Even if you want to support those around you, it can be difficult to know what to do or what signs to look for when someone is struggling with mental health or substance use.
What would the world look like if:
- more people had the tools to better support those experiencing mental health and substance use issues?
- we could reduce the stigma that keeps so many from getting the help they need?
- folks could get assistance before their experience turns into a suicide prevention situation?
Let's try to find out - together. Let's work together to bring greater support, knowledge, and awareness to our homes, workplaces, communities, and beyond. Please join me for Adult Mental Health First Aid certification training.
Mental Health First Aid is a training — like regular First Aid or CPR — designed to give people the skills to help someone who's developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.
The evidence behind the program reflects that it helps trainees identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
After you attend Adult Mental Health First Aid training, you can put your new knowledge into action immediately to help co-create more thoughtful, stigma-reducing environments - at work, at home, and everywhere you go.



Psssst...
If you're feeling absolutely all in on Virtual, Small Group Adult Mental Health First with TO SAY I AM, this is your chance to go directly to the must-have details and registration options.
Yes, please! Take me there.Virtual Small Group Adult Mental Health First Aid with TO SAY I AM
Mental Health First Aid Training uses reflection, discussion, and simulations to demonstrate how to recognize and respond to the warning signs of specific illnesses.
The coursework teaches participants a five-step action plan, ALGEE, to support someone developing signs and symptoms of a mental illness or who's in an emotional crisis:
- Assess for risk of suicide or harm
- Listen nonjudgmentally
- Give reassurance and information
- Encourage appropriate professional help
- Encourage self-help and other support strategies
Adult Mental Health First Aid certification training is for folks who are age 18+ who would like tools to support other 18+ folks. The training consists of:
- A 2 hour Virtual Self-Paced Pre-Work Course (National Council of Mental Well-being Online Platform)
- An 7 hour Virtual, Live Instructor-led Training (Zoom session that includes breaks throughout)
- Post-Course Knowledge Check and Certification (National Council of Mental Well-being Online Platform)
Why Adult Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid helps people better understand that mental illnesses and addictions are real, common, and treatable and that it’s okay to seek help. Research demonstrates Mental Health First Aid's effectiveness in improving knowledge of mental illnesses and substance use, removing fear and misunderstanding, and enabling those trained to offer concrete assistance.
Individuals trained in Adult Mental Health First Aid can help:
- Raise awareness and encourage understanding of the ways in which one’s cultural background can impact the discrimination associated with mental illness
- Reach out to those who suffer in silence, reluctant to seek help
- Let those they interact with know that support is available in their community and beyond
- Provide information on self-help strategies and resources
- Make mental health care and treatment more accessible to those in need
Through MHFA, more than 2.9 million people in the U.S. have been trained by over 25,000 certified Instructors to identify, understand, and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.
Peer-reviewed studies have proven that trained Mental Health First Aiders are more knowledgeable and confident when it comes to identifying and helping an individual in distress.
Recently Updated Curriculum & Why It's Important
The Adult Mental Health First Aid curriculum was recently updated. The new curriculum gives First Aiders working definitions for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It describes the types of crises associated with trauma and emphasizes the importance of early intervention following a traumatic event. First Aiders receive clear guidance for supporting someone immediately after a traumatic event, as well as over the time that follows. This added instruction on trauma will help First Aiders better assess and respond to situations where they encounter someone dealing with trauma.
The new curriculum also helps First Aiders understand what self-care is and the various forms it can take. The instruction demonstrates how self-care is important to resilience and recovery and then helps First Aiders develop their own self-care action plans that they can use to navigate traumas and stressors.
Caring for yourself is a key component to thoughtfully caring for others.
Adult Mental Health First Aid training emphasizes self-care, and when you choose TO SAY I AM for Adult Mental Health First Aid training, you also get an additional on-demand Well-being Bundle that highlights self support resources, too!

Hi! I'm Jamie (she/her), the person behind TO SAY I AM. Welcome and thank you so much for your interest in Adult Mental Health First Aid.
TO SAY I AM exclusively provides virtual, small group training. Here's why:
Virtual training gives you the freedom to participate from any place (with a high speed internet connection) that's convenient and comfortable for you.
Not everyone has easy access to in-person Mental Health First Aid training. Even if someone has easy (or easier) access to in-person training, not everyone is fully comfortable to address sensitive topics with a group of strangers in-person. Remote, virtual access can provide a greater sense of ease for some and opens up access for folks who want to limit Covid-19 exposure. This format also allows a bit more freedom of movement for folks who'd like to step away from the training to care for their well-being.
Conducting training in a small group environment can also allow for a more personalized experience where folks have a greater opportunity to ask questions, participate, and seek a comfort level that may be absent with larger group instruction. Trainings will have a maximum of 15 participants per live instructor-led session.
To allow opportunity for a change in eye focus, movement, and off-screen care without missing material, I also specifically schedule virtual training times to allow small breaks throughout and a 30 minute break mid-session.
Additional Self Support Resources
The importance of self-care is highlighted in Adult Mental Health First Aid Training.
Often when we focus on caring for others, our own well-being can get backburnered. To further support attendees beyond the initial course, every student who completes the live, instructor-led training session with TO SAY I AM will also receive additional on-demand wellness support resources that include:

De-Stress Techniques

Change & Well-Being Essentials

Mind-Body Basics
Important Details & Frequently Asked Questions
What does the training include?
What happens after I register?
What happens if I don't complete the online pre-work?
What if I can't make it to my live training session?
What is the refund policy?
Can I find out more about Mental Health First Aid?
This training may be a good fit for:
- folks who are 18+ who want to learn about supporting other folks who are 18+
- people who are comfortable with a several hour online training that includes breaks and opportunity for small group learning
- those who are willing to keep their camera on for *most* of training to support connection and trust when discussing sensitive topics
- someone who has access to a laptop or desktop with high speed internet access and a working camera and microphone
- folks who want to learn more about general mental health and substance use support tools that they can apply immediately
This training isn't a good fit for:
- folks who are looking for information about supporting folks who are under 18
- people who aren't comfortable with a full day of online training or would prefer to be in-person
- those who don't have access to high speed internet or equipment that will easily support teleconferencing
- mental health or substance use professionals with existing specialized knowledge
- people who prefer to have material addressed as quickly as possible without taking time for breaks
Since the National Council for Mental Wellbeing brought Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) to the United States in 2008, instructors have trained over 2.9 million First Aiders from all 50 states and U.S. territories.
UPCOMING LIVE TRAINING SESSIONS
Register Now - Three Tier Pricing
The National Council of Mental Well-being values this certification training to be $170 per person. To provide greater access options, TO SAY I AM offers three prices. Choose which best fits you and your situation. All registrants will get access to the same training and resources no matter what they choose to pay. This training is for adults who are 18 years old or older who want to assist and support other adults who are 18 years old or older.
Saturday, August 19, 2023: 7:30 am (PT)/10:30 am (ET) - 2:30 pm (PT)/5:30 pm (ET)
Registration will close Monday, August 14 or when session participant limit is reached. Pre-work deadline is Wednesday, August 16 at 11:59 pm (PT).
Wednesday, August 23, 2023: 8:30 am (PT)/11:30 am (ET) - 3:30 pm (PT)/6:30 pm (ET)
Registration will close Friday, August 18 or when session participant limit is reached. Pre-work deadline is Sunday, August 20 at 11:59 pm (PT).
Tuesday, September 19, 2023: 6:30 am (PT)/9:30 am (ET) - 1:30 pm (PT)/4:30 pm (ET)
Registration will close Thursday, September 14 or when session participant limit is reached. Pre-work deadline is Saturday, September 16 at 11:59 pm (PT).
Thursday, September 28, 2023: 8:30 am (PT)/11:30 am (ET) - 3:30 pm (PT)/6:30 pm (ET)
Registration will close Saturday, September 23 or when session participant limit is reached. Pre-work deadline is Monday, September 25 at 11:59 pm (PT).
Don't see a date that fits for you right now? Sign up for the mailing list to get updates.
Sounds good!Do you have questions about this training? Let's get them answered. Send a message.
Excellent. Will do.Interested in bringing this virtual training to your workplace? I'd love to help.
Tell me more.
Hey there, it's Jamie again.
I'm the Founder and Owner of TO SAY I AM Transformation Co. Thank you for considering Virtual Small Group Adult Mental Health First Aid training.
I've lost people I care about to suicide and overdose and am 12+ years sober. Witnessing loved ones, acquaintances, and complete strangers suffer, live in pain, and struggle with mental health and substance use, I can't help but wonder if their paths may have been different - if there were less stigma and more people had better tools to support them.
This wondering helped inspire the path I'm on today.
After creating profound personal changes and enjoying life in a way I never knew possible, I wanted to help others do the same. I started writing for social impact and change-supporting brands. That led me to create TO SAY I AM. I spent the last few years working with folks – individually and in groups - through employer-sponsored wellness efforts – writing, building resources, and providing training and support. It was a wonderful experience, and I’m drawn to support people in new ways. Because of the spotlight on and need for expanded mental health support resources, I've chosen to provide virtual small group Adult Mental Health First Aid training to individuals and interested teams across the United States.
In addition to my Adult Mental Health First Aid instructor certification from the National Council of Mental Wellbeing, I'm also a Wellness Consultant and hold the following certifications:
- Mind-Body Practitioner (MindBodyFood Institute)
- Personal Trainer (ISSA)
- Nutrition Coach (ISSA)
- Transformation Specialist (ISSA)
- Exercise Recovery Specialist (ISSA)
- Mindfulness Instructor (School of Positive Transformation)
- Office Ergonomic Assessor (Saif Corporation)
I'm so grateful that you're here. Let's partner together to bring greater mental health support, knowledge, and awareness to our homes, workplaces, communities, and beyond.