WHY Network Expands Access to Mental Health First Aid Training
As part of its comprehensive effort to support the healthcare workforce, SCHA’s WHY initiative has provided Mental Health First Aid training and certification to dozens of hospital staff. Now, WHY has established a network of certified instructors to make it even easier for hospitals to access the training by bringing a workshop directly to their facility.
Just as CPR trains people to assist someone having a heart attack, MHFA prepares hospital staff members to help those who are experiencing a mental health or substance use-related challenge or crisis.
“MHFA is an interactive, skills-based training program that teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges,” said Jen Wright, SCHA’s Director of Workforce Experience. “It builds skills and confidence needed to support to a colleague who’s struggling, which helps foster a culture of mental wellbeing and makes your hospital a better place to work.”
A roster of certified instructors and contact information is available on the WHY website. Anyone interested in scheduling training at their hospital can reach out directly to a local instructor, or use an online contact form to ask questions or get help.
WHY — an acronym that stands for Work, Harmony, You — aims to restore harmony to the relationship between work and the people who do it by tackling systemic, root causes of worker burnout, disengagement, and turnover. MFHA training is one of numerous WHY initiatives to address sources of stress for healthcare workers.
WHY also will offer three member-wide adult MHFA training sessions in 2025, starting with a virtual workshop March 26th. Details and registration information will be available soon.