Over the past year, Cari Kelley has certified over 120 people in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), on top of her full-time job as United Way’s workplace donor relations manager.
MHFA, an 8-hour public education program, teaches people how to recognize and respond to mental health and substance use challenges. Cari took the training years ago and found it enormously useful. When United Way’s Mental Health Initiative presented the opportunity to become a certified instructor, Cari raised her hand.
“I have a lot of personal experience with mental health as the primary support person for someone in my family. I also talk to a lot of businesses through my work with United Way who tell me the mental health of their employees and their families and friends is a top concern. Being out in the community and teaching Mental Health First Aid gives me an opportunity to let people know that they’re not alone,” Cari said.
United Way’s Mental Health Initiative paid for 10 individuals, including Cari, to become certified MHFA instructors. The goal is to give more of us the skills to step in and help each other before a visit to the Emergency Department.
MHFA teaches people strategies including assessing the risk of suicide, listening nonjudgmentally, offering reassurance, and encouraging someone to seek help. Participants learn about available community resources and the importance of practicing their own self-care.
“I have learned a lot about taking time to stop and think about what I need for my own mental health. Meditation and music have become critical in my life,” says Cari.