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Mental Health First Aid & CALM Conversations

July 12 @ 9:00 am 5:00 pm CDT

Take the First Step toward Suicide Prevention

Join us for a free, full-day training on Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Conversations on Access to Lethal Means (CALM Conversations)—two nationally recognized, evidence-based trainings that equip you to support someone in crisis with knowledge, confidence, and compassion.

Through interactive instruction and hands-on safety planning exercises, you’ll learn to navigate difficult conversations, reduce risk, and offer meaningful support. The training covers common mental health and substance use challenges in adults—such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, and substance use disorders—and introduces a practical 5-step action plan to guide your response in both crisis and non-crisis situations.

What You’ll Gain

  • Practical skills to recognize and respond to mental health or substance use challenges in adults
  • Tools for tough conversations around suicide risk and lethal means
  • Strategies that save lives by reducing access to lethal means during times of crisis

Certifications & CEUs

Upon completion, this session qualifies for continuing education units (CEUs) and professional certifications:

  • Mental Health First Aid (MHFA): 3-year certification | 7.5 CEUs
  • Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM): 1-year certification | 1.5 CEUs

To request your certificate and a CEU submission form for state certification, please email us after attending the training.

Please note: This training includes 2 hours of required self-paced pre-course work prior to the live session.

About Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training that teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health or substance use challenges using a 5-step action plan (ALGEE) to guide you through how to assess risk, listen without judgment, and connect someone to professional help. MHFA helps you build the confidence to step in when someone may be struggling. Scenarios and exercises make the learning practical, so you leave ready to help in real-life situations.

About Conversations on Access to Lethal Means (CALM Conversations)

CALM Conversations offers practical tools for discussing safe storage of lethal means, like firearms or medications, during a suicidal crisis. This course empowers everyday people to have respectful, life-saving conversations that can reduce the risk of suicide by putting time and space between a person in crisis and lethal means.

About Suicide Prevention Training

Suicide prevention trainings help prepare individuals to respond to someone in crisis. You’ll learn how to recognize risk, offer support, and take meaningful steps to keep someone safe. Learn more about suicide prevention trainings. Download our Suicide Prevention Toolkit for practical tools, resources, and guidance to support someone in crisis.

This Event is Open To

This event is open to individuals nationwide. Eligibility varies by session. Check Eventbrite for details on other offerings.

Take the First Step Toward Suicide Prevention–Sign up Today!

Looking for one-on-one support? Peer 2 Peer Connect pairs you with a trained VSN Peer Leader for personalized guidance. For more resources and updates, follow @veteranspousenetwork and subscribe to the VSN Newsletter. Questions or concerns? We’re here to help at vsn@austin.utexas.edu.

Free