Mental Health First Aid-FREE Training being Offered
At 9 AM on Saturday, July 11, the United Methodist Church of Red Bank NJ (UMCRB), 247 Broad Street, will host a free Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training which has been expanded to include aspects of mental health for active military, veterans, and their families.
This 7.5 hour in-person training, valued at 170 per learner, is offered free of charge in collaboration with the NJHA (New Jersey Hospital Association) thanks to a grant from the NJ Department of Veterans Affairs.
See below for complete details
DATE AND TIME:
Saturday July 11, 2026, 9 AM – 4:30 PM
LOCATION: United Methodist Church of Red Bank, 247 Broad Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701
WHERE TO REGISTER: www.njha.com/njvetsmhfa (or email MHFA@njha.com)
Beverages and snacks will be provided. Please bring a brown bag lunch if possible.
Mental Health First Aid:
Tools to Identify, Understand, Respond
This 7.5-hour course offers focused, interactive training designed to support individuals who are not healthcare professionals by giving them tools to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges amongst adults.
MHFA teaches participants how to apply the MHFA Action Plan (ALGEE):
- Assess risk of suicide or harm.
- Listen nonjudgmentally
- Give reassurance and information.
- Encourage appropriate professional help.
- Encourage self-help and other support strategies.
While MHFA training is broadly applicable to any adult, it has been expanded to specifically address mental health issues related to military culture. It offers information on risk factors such as mental and physical trauma faced by many service members and their families. The training teaches how to break down stigma, to reach out to those who are reluctant to seek help, and to connect them to national, regional and community mental health resources for adults, including those expressly for service members, veterans and their families.
REASONS TO PARTICIPATE
- In the US, on average 130 people die by suicide every day.
- In the last decade, 841,000 people died from drug overdoses.
- The suicide rate for veterans is 57% greater than for non-veterans.
- 1 in 5 Americans live with mental illness.
- Nearly 1 in 4 active-duty members show signs of mental health conditions.
- 88% of veterans’ caregivers experience increased levels of stress and anxiety.
