As the county’s leader in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training and dedicated coordinator of its multi-agency county coalition, Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service (Alpert JFS) proudly helps raise awareness about mental health issues, promotes good mental health practices, and encourages people to support others around them every day.

In May, we were part of the community-wide movement to destigmatize mental illness, addiction and suicide, and debunk the myths attached to those with mental health challenges, as part of Mental Health Awareness and Trauma-informed Care Month, in an effort to change the stigma surrounding mental illness and change lives. Our Clinical Director Dr. Elaine Rotenberg was among the speakers at the “Get Your Green On” Kick-off at the end of April, speaking about Pausing to Look Forward.”

Our team (and in some cases, their family members!) joined many others, sharing selfies wearing lime green, which is the national color for mental health awareness. We posted the images on our social media accounts, and encouraged others to do the same.

Like many other programs and services in the age of COVID-19, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) has gone from in-person training to online. Participants engage in experiential activities that build an understanding of the impact of illness on individuals and families in a virtual class format that includes two (2) hours of self-paced independent classwork followed by interactive Zoom instruction for up to 20 people at a time.

The nationally renowned, evidence-based training course teaches participants the skills to help someone developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The program builds mental health literacy, offering the tools needed to help friends, families, colleagues, and members of the community! To learn more about becoming a “Mental Health First Aider,” visit alpertjfs.org/mhfa/, phone 561-238-0251, or email [email protected].

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