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Mental Health First Aid Information

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) at Saint Louis University is a skills-based training course that teaches participants about mental health and substance-use challenges. Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a medical emergency, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. 

Topics Covered
  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Trauma
  • Psychosis
  • Substance use disorders
Training Overview
  • Common signs and symptoms of mental illness
  • How to interact with a person in crisis
  • How to connect the person with help
  • Expanded content on trauma, addiction and self-care

Registration

SLU offers training for faculty, staff and students. Individuals can register themselves or groups can register to train their entire organization or department (max of 30 participants at a time). 

If you have a group of 10 or more and would like to train as a group, please fill out this Google form.

Hear about the benefits of Mental Health First Aid training from campus leaders and participants. 

1,261 Total Trained in the SLU Community

637

Students

624

Faculty and Staff

SLU Mental Health First Aid Instructors

We currently have eight SLU faculty and staff trained to facilitate Mental Health First Aid across campus:

Tori Harwood Headshot

Tori Harwood 
Program Coordinator 
Campus Recreation and Wellness  


Tim Howell headshot
Timothy Howell 
Associate Professor 
Physical Therapy  

Bill Bowey headshot

Bill Bowey
Assistant Director
Office of Student Responsibility and Community Standards


Erica McBride headshot

Erica McBride 
Program Coordinator II - Student Support 
VP Diversity and Community Engagement  


Shannon Cooper Sadlo headshot

Shannon Cooper-Sadlo 
Program Director 
SSW-Social Work  


Headshot of Katie Heiden Rootes

Katie Heiden-Rootes 
Faculty Fellow for Equity Issues 
Medical Family Therapy-Administration 


Rachel Donahue Headshot

Rachel Donahue 
Wellness Coordinator 
Compensation and Benefits 


Image of Johsiey Litherland

Johsiey Litherland
Public Safety Training and Accreditation Manager
Department of Public Safety


Image of Teagan Schwab

Teagan Schwab
Learning Community Academic Coordinator
Department of Housing and Residential Life


Hear From Participants

Mental Health First Aid has taught me skills that I can use when helping a friend or classmate through a mental health concern. I feel more prepared to assist someone if I ever have to.”

Student Participant

MHFA was very helpful in increasing my skills to support our students, faculty, or staff. After taking the course, I find it will be very beneficial to our SLU community.”

Faculty Participant

Acknowledgment of Grantors’ Support

Saint Louis University is grateful for the support of the Patrick P. Lee Foundation and the Boniface Foundation for their generous grants, which support mental health first aid training for our SLU community. We share their commitment to mental health and well-being for individuals and communities.