Coastal Horizons Mental Health Awareness Team (MHAT) offers Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid courses to anyone living or working in Pender, New Hanover, Brunswick, Bladen, or Columbus counties. Upon successful completion of this course, participants are eligible to become a certified Mental Health First Aider, which is valid for 3 years. Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based training that teaches participants to recognize and assist during a mental health challenge or crisis.

MHFA courses are taught in a blended format which includes 2 hours of online self-paced pre-work and either virtual or in-person instructor led training. For the virtual training, each participant must have access to a webcam and microphone during the instructor led portion of the training.

Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings for groups and community partners are regularly scheduled the first Tuesday and fourth Thursday of every month.

Please note that only one adult and one youth training can be scheduled per day, and we must have a minimum of 5 participants and the maximum per class is 30.

Grant funding assists in covering the cost of training. Therefore, to extend this training to as many individuals as possible and meet grant requirements, we are only able to offer one training per individual (either Youth Mental Health First Aid or Adult Mental Health First Aid). If you are interested in participating in both, please speak with Savannah McMurray regarding the fee ($25.70) associated with attending an additional training when scheduling.

If you would like to schedule a training, have questions, or need an alternate date, please email Ayrien Norris at [email protected].