Mental Health First Aid Training
Mental Health First Aid Training
What is Mental Health First Aid? Who benefits?
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based training that helps you recognize, understand, and respond when someone around you is struggling with their mental health, behavioral health, or substance use. Just as traditional first aid prepares you to help in a physical health emergency, MHFA gives you the skills and confidence to offer real support to someone experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis until professional help arrives.
Who benefits from becoming certified?
MHFA certification is for anyone who wants to feel more confident stepping in when someone may be struggling and responding with empathy, safety, and care. Educators, managers, community leaders, healthcare workers, first responders, parents, and peers often find it especially valuable, but truly, anyone can benefit. Getting certified helps you build safer, more supportive spaces at work, school, and in your community by reducing stigma, opening up communication, and catching challenges early.
These MHFA trainings are subsidized by MHEAC and available to individuals who work in mental health services with higher education students in Illinois.
Meet the MHFA Instructors
Joshua Laughhunn, MBA
Joshua graduated from the University of Illinois Springfield in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Clinical Psychology, and later earned his MBA from SIU Edwardsville in October 2025. He brings professional experience as a Community Mental Health Worker and four years of service as a volunteer firefighter/EMT-Basic. That varied path led him to his current role as Pathways Program Coordinator for the Behavioral Health Workforce Center. Joshua is passionate about serving his community and is committed to training as many community members and Illinois residents in Mental Health First Aid as possible.
Anita Sego, PhD, MCHES
Anita Sego is executive director of the Illinois Campus Cares Technical Assistance Center at SIU School of Medicine and a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES). She specializes in public health program development and research focused on juvenile justice, addiction studies, faculty development, and diverse populations. Anita holds a PhD in Health Education from Southern Illinois University, a Master’s in Health Program and Facility Administration from Indiana State University, and a BS in Health Studies from Eastern Illinois University. Her expertise includes instructional design, grant administration, and leadership in health organizations, earning her awards for teaching, diversity, and community service.
Matthew Warner, DHSc, ACSM-EP
Matthew Warner is Director of Technical Assistance and Training at the Illinois Campus Cares Technical Assistance Center (ICC TAC) at SIU School of Medicine, and a part-time instructor/adjunct with SUNY Cortland’s Health Department. He holds a Doctorate of Health Sciences from Indiana State University and an M.S. in Kinesiology and Sports Studies from Eastern Illinois University, and is a certified ACSM Exercise Physiologist. With nearly a decade of higher education teaching experience, he is passionate about student-centered pedagogy and has received multiple institutional teaching awards.
Interested in becoming certified or bringing MHFA training to your team? We’d love to help.
Our instructors offer virtual trainings funded by ICC TAC MHEAC. Reach out to Matt Warner (mwarner57@siumed.edu), and we’ll help you get scheduled.
Upcoming virtual Trainings:
August 4, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Register Now
September 1, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Register Now
October 6, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Register Now
November 3, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Register Now
December 1, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Register Now
January 12, 2027 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Register Now
February 2, 2027 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Register Now
March 2, 2027 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Register Now
April 6, 2027 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Register Now
May 4, 2027 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Register Now
June 1, 2027 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Register Now
CME/CEU Credits
All attendees will receive a Certificate of Attendance.
DISCLOSURE POLICY
It is the policy of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine that speakers, planners, and anyone in control of content disclose real or apparent conflicts of interest relating to the topics of this activity, and also disclose discussions of unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices during their presentation(s). The SIU School of Medicine Office of Continuing Professional Development has policies in place that will identify and mitigate all conflicts of interest prior to this activity. Detailed disclosure will be provided prior to the start of the activity.