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Mental Health Awareness Training Rx: Equipping Pharmacists with Mental Health First Aid (MHAT-Rx)

About Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a skill-based course that teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use problems. This evidence-based interactive training gives participants the skills and confidence needed to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. MHFA training provides an action plan that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and address potential mental health and substance use problems. Participants will also learn how to help connect people to appropriate services. Mental Health First Aiders are individuals who want to make their community healthier, happier and safer for all.

For more information, visit: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/

  • Community pharmacists are trusted, knowledgeable, accessible, and an integral part of health care delivery, promoting safe and effective medication use. Community pharmacists interface daily with large numbers of individuals representing a wide array of people in their communities. MHFA training will increase community pharmacists’ awareness of mental health, teach knowledge and skills to effectively assist, and provide resources to facilitate referrals and linkages to comprehensive mental health, substance use, and suicide prevention services.

  • At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

    • Understand the prevalence and impact of mental health and substance use problems in the United States
    • Understand the barriers to treatment for mental health and substance use problems
    • Recognize signs, symptoms and risk factors for mental health and substance use disorders
    • Discuss how to respond to someone who is not in crisis but exhibiting mental health or substance use problems
    • Demonstrate the Mental Health First Aid Action Plan for someone who may be in a crisis
    • Provide helpful resources and referrals for people experiencing mental health or substance use problems

    Type of activity: Knowledge

    Target audience: Pharmacists

  • Fee: Complimentary

    All training materials and delivery of the MHFA curriculum will be coordinated by Keck Graduate Institute and supported by a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SM084175-01). Training and certification is free to participants.

    • Training sessions are open to community pharmacists working or living in Los Angeles County
    • Participants will be required to
      • Complete a 2-hour self-paced online module prior to their registered training date
      • Attend a 5-hour instructor-led live training session, either in person (Claremont, CA) or virtual (via Zoom) on the registered date
    • Participants will be required to attend the session in full and to complete both the post-course quiz and evaluation in order to receive certification
    • A certificate from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing will be issued to course participants upon completion
    • Licensed pharmacists can receive 7.0 Contact Hours or 0.7 CEUs of ACPE-accredited continuing education credit for free

Class Schedule

  • Our currently available training dates are below. Please check this page regularly, as it will be updated when new sessions are scheduled.
  • The registration deadline is 48 hours before the scheduled course or when the session becomes full. Registration is limited to the first 30 registrants for each date. There will be a waitlist when classes become full. Please email mhfa@kgi.edu and specify which date you would like to attend in order to be added to a waitlist.
  • Home study component: Confirmed registered participants will receive access to the self-paced online home study module materials two weeks prior to their scheduled session. Two hours of home study are required and must be completed before participating in the scheduled instructor-led training session.
  • Please only register if you are able and committed to participating in the training. By registering, you are claiming an available seat. Registrants needing to withdraw must email mhfa@kgi.edu as early as possible and no later than 72 hours prior to the scheduled session in order for waitlisted participants to be accommodated.
Date & Time
 
Friday, March 03, 2023
12:00-5:00 p.m. (virtual)
Instructor: Kara Gagnon, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP
Pharmacy & Behavioral Health Programs Manager

Closed
Friday, March 17, 2023
12:00-5:00 p.m. (in-person)
Instructor: Lise Porter, LMFT
Psychotherapist, Trainer, Consultant

Closed
Friday, March 24, 2023
8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (virtual)
Instructor: Kara Gagnon, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP
Pharmacy & Behavioral Health Programs Manager

Instructor: Erin D. Knox, PharmD, BCPP
Director, Experiential Pharmacy Education and Volunteer Clinical Professor

Closed
Friday, April 14, 2023
12:00-5:00 p.m. (virtual)
Instructor: Kara Gagnon, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP
Pharmacy & Behavioral Health Programs Manager
Closed
Saturday, April 22, 2023
8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (in-person)
Instructor: Lise Porter, LMFT
Psychotherapist, Trainer, Consultant
Register
Saturday, April 29, 2023
8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (virtual)
Instructor: Farah Khorassani, PharmD, BCPP
Associate Clinical Professor
Register

 

If you have a group of 25-30 community pharmacist participants and would like to schedule a training session for your team or colleagues, please contact: mhfa@kgi.edu

Once we receive your registration, we will contact you with a confirmation email and additional details about the training session. For questions, please contact: mhfa@kgi.edu

  • All faculty are certified by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing as Mental Health First Aid instructors for the Adult blended virtual and/or in-person MHFA 2.0 curriculum.

  • Participation in both the 2-hour self-paced online module as well as the 5-hour instructor-led training session, passing a post-test at a specified proficiency level, and completing an activity evaluation form.

  • For the 2-hour self-paced online module, we advise learners to use a modern web browser, preferably Edge or Chrome. Learners will also need a PDF reader, preferably Acrobat.

    For the virtual instructor-led training sessions, learners will need the following technology to successfully participate:

    • Computer: Windows, Apple desktop or laptop computer OR Mobile Device/Tablet/Surface: iOS, Android, Windows.
    • Microphone and speakers: Participants whose computers do not have a microphone and/or speaker can use the dial-in option from their phone for audio.
    • HD webcam: Either built into the user’s device or external.
    • Internet connection: We recommend an internet connection speed of at least 5 mbps (upload and download). You can test your internet speed at https://www.speedtest.net/.
    • Phone (backup audio option): Phones may be used for audio support only.
    • A PDF reader: Chrome built-in, Firefox built-in, or preferably Acrobat

  • The confidentiality and privacy statement of KGI and AAPP are available for viewing here and here.

  • Resources are provided for the educational benefit of our learners and are not for distribution. All content is owned and copyrighted by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and cannot be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,transmitted, or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the proper permission from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

  • Activity Dates: 3/3/2023 – 3/2/2026
    ACPE Contact Hours: 7
    ACPE #: 0284-9999-23-046-H99-P (2 hours) 0284-9999-23-045-L99-P (5 hours)

    ACPEThe American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education and serves as a partner with Keck Graduate Institute in this educational program.