"I genuinely feel more equipped to be a support system. I feel excited and happy I have a foundation to help my loved ones and others."
​-"FMHI-SF Mental Health First Aid Training" Scholarship Recipient 2021

UPDATE 10/17/2022: Applicants will be notified of their scholarship status by October 30th, 2022.

Overview

**TW/CW Suicide**
At the Filipino Mental Health Initiative of San Francisco, we are committed to building community capacity by creating access to culturally appropriate behavioral health services & mental health education programs to the Filipino and Filipina/o/x American community in San Francisco. FMHI-SF is proud to announce the return of our Mental Health First Aid Training Scholarship Program, sponsored by Success Centers.

In honor of September's Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, FMHI-SF will offer scholarships to community members interested in Mental Health First Aid certification. Scholarships will cover training fees in Youth Mental Health First Aid, Adult Mental Health First Aid, and Mental Health First Aid Instructor courses. ​Applicants working or living in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood will be prioritized. BIPOC youth workers, organizational leaders, caregivers, and parents are strongly encouraged to apply.

A big thank you to Success Centers, our sponsors for the 2022 Mental Health First Aid Training Scholarship program.

Contact Verma Zapanta at [email protected] for questions. 

What is Mental Health First Aid?

Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course that teaches community members how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. This training provides the skills needed to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and connect them to the appropriate care.

FMHI-SF will award multiple scholarships for the following Mental Health First Aid certification training programs:

• Youth Mental Health First Aider Certification  (valued at $150)*
• Adult Mental Health First Aider Certification (valued at $150)*
• Instructor Certification in Youth or Adult Mental Health First Aid (valued at $2,200)**​

Application cycle will close on Friday, September 30th, 2022.  Applicants will be notified of their scholarship status by the second week of October 2022. 
​
*Scholarships for Youth/Adult First Aider Certification are only applicable to trainings facilitated by the Filipino Mental Health Initiative of San Francisco. Trainings will be held online via Zoom between October 2022-January 2023. 
​ **Scholarships for Instructor Certification in Youth or Adult Mental Health First Aid are applicable to online trainings facilitated by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.  Scholarship recipients must register and complete their training before December 31st, 2022.  

Scholarship Awards

1) "Youth Mental Health First Aider Certification" Scholarship

TRAINING COURSE DESCRIPTION
​Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. To learn more, download the Mental Health First Aid for Youth one-pager.

​ELIGIBILITY

• Applicant must be 18 years or older
• Has access to a laptop/desktop, internet, and Zoom Video Conference platform.​
• Individuals who live or work for a program, CBO, or non-profit that serves SF's South of Market community will be prioritized
• Applicants may apply for multiple Mental Health First Aid Training scholarships offered in this program 

​
COMMITMENTS

• Complete a TWO HOUR self-paced online course on MHFA Connect before attending the training.
• Available to attend one of the Youth Mental Health First Aid online training sessions facilitated by the Filipino Mental Health Initiative of SF. 

​Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Dates (2 available)

• Sunday, November 13th, 2022 from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• Sunday, January 8th, 2023 from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Update 10/1/2022: We are no longer accepting applications for this scholarship. 

2) "Adult Mental Health First Aider Certification" Scholarship

TRAINING COURSE DESCRIPTION
Mental Health First Aid for Adults​ teaches people how to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges in adults ages 18 and older, how to offer and provide initial help, and how to guide a person toward appropriate care if necessary. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addictions. Learn more: DOWNLOAD THE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID FOR ADULTS ONE-PAGER

ELIGIBILITY FOR SCHOLARSHIP

• ​​Applicant must be 18 years or older
• Has access to a laptop/desktop, internet, and Zoom Video Conference platform.​
• Individuals who live or work for a program, CBO, or non-profit that serves SF's South of Market community will be prioritized
• Applicants may apply for multiple Mental Health First Aid Training scholarships offered in this program

 
COMMITMENTS

• Complete a TWO HOUR self-paced online course on MHFA Connect before attending the training.
• Available to attend one of the Adult Mental Health First Aid online training sessions facilitated by the Filipino Mental Health Initiative of SF. 

​Adult Mental Health First Aid Training Dates (2 available)

• Sunday, October 23rd, 2022 from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• Sunday, December 18th, 2022 from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Update 10/1/2022: We are no longer accepting applications for this scholarship. ​

3) "Instructor Certification-Mental Health First Aid" Scholarship 
Youth or Adult Courses

TRAINING OVERVIEW
Instructors are the key to spreading Mental Health First Aid across the country. Instructors are individuals certified to teach the course in their communities and beyond. Instructor certification results from a 3-day training that presents the Mental Health First Aid course and provides in-depth instruction on facilitating the curriculum. The training includes self-paced pre-work, a written exam and a presentation that evaluates each candidate’s ability to present the Mental Health First Aid course to a variety of audiences. Once certified, Instructors must teach the course at least three times per year to maintain their certification.

ELIGIBILITY

• ​​Applicant must be 18 years or older
• Obtained certification in Youth or Adult Mental Health First Aid in 2019 or later*.
• Has access to a laptop/desktop, internet, and Zoom Video Conference platform.​
• Individuals who live or work for a program, CBO, or non-profit that serves SF's South of Market community will be prioritized
• Applicants may choose to become instructor certified in either the Adult or Youth curriculum.

COMMITMENTS

• Attend a scholarship on-boarding meeting with FMHI-SF staff to apply for an Instructor Training with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
• Complete the 3-Day Online Instructor Training with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Training must be completed BEFORE December 31st, 2022.
• List themselves as a community partner of the Filipino Mental Health Initiative of San Francisco on our website.
• Share future Mental Health First Aid Training opportunities with community members of the South of Market neighborhood via email or social media.

*To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must be currently certified in Youth or Adult Mental Health First Aid (Certified in 2019 or later).  The National Council for Mental Wellbeing will require proof of certification during the registration course registration process. Visit MHFA Connect  to view the status of your certification or email [email protected] for more information. 

Update 10/1/2022: We are no longer accepting applications for this scholarship. ​

"I feel inspired to learn more about how I can be a better mental advocate in the communities I serve." ​
-FMHI-SF Mental Health First Aid Training ​Scholarship Recipient 2021

Additional Resources

---

Download 1-pager "Mental Health Counseling Support Lines" (PDF)

Click here for a Mental Health & Wellness Resource List compiled by community members of the Filipino Mental Health Initiative of San Francisco.

If you or someone you care about is in crisis and needs immediate support, please call the San Francisco Suicide Lifeline at (415) 781-0500 or text MYLIFE to 741741. Trained and experienced counselors are available FREE of charge 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist. If emergency medical care is needed, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital.

24/7 MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT HOTLINES/TEXT LINES
San Francisco Suicide Prevention Hotline: 415-781-0500
Huckleberry House Teen Crisis Hotline: 415-621-2929 
SF Mobile Response Team: 1-877-305-8989
24/7 Crisis Text Line: Text “MYLIFE” to 741-741
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text 988
Huckleberry House Teen Crisis Text Line: 1-800-735-2929

​ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
SFDPH 24/7 Hotline for Mental Health Referrals: 1-415-255-3737 
Bay Area Mobile Crisis Response Team Directory (211)
Filipino American Counseling and Treatment Team FACT: 415-836-1700
 
-Safety Plan for Crisis Prevention (Template) by Asian Mental Health Project
-SPRC Support -for Suicidal Individuals on Social and Digital Media (Toolkit)
-Take Action for- Mental Health (Resources)

What is Mental Health First Aid?

Nearly one in five U.S. adults lives with a mental illness (44.7 million in 2016). (National Institute of Mental Health via the National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.  In 2016, an estimated 10.4 million adults (4.2 percent) in the U.S. had a serious mental illness (SMI). (National Institute of Mental Health via the National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Similar to 'First Aid' and CPR, 'Mental Health First Aid' teaches individuals to help those experiencing mental health challenges or crises. Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.  Similar to 'First Aid' and CPR, 'Mental Health First Aid' teaches individuals to help those experiencing mental health challenges or crises. Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care. 

---

Learn more by visiting Mental Health First Aid from the National Counsel for Mental Wellbeing. 

Adult Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid for Adults teaches people how to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges in adults ages 18 and older, how to offer and provide initial help, and how to guide a person toward appropriate care if necessary. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addictions. Learn more: DOWNLOAD THE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID FOR ADULTS ONE-PAGER

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. To learn more, download the Mental Health First Aid for Youth one-pager.