NEWPORT, Sunny Naughton, Regional Prevention Partnerships Grant Coordinator at Northeast Kingdom Learning Services (NEKLS), has been named the Top Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Trainer in Vermont. The honor, shared with frequent training partner Lance Metayer, is awarded by the National Council of Behavioral Health based on number of trainings, attendees, and evaluations.
Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based course that teaches participants how to respond to mental health and substance-use issues before professional help arrives, similar to CPR. Naughton has trained over 400 community members across northern Vermont in just two years, hosting more than 30 sessions for educators, human services workers, security personnel, and college resident advisors.
To become a trainer, Naughton completed 40 hours of instruction, including written tests and a practicum presentation. She is certified in both Youth and Adult MHFA.
“I feel that everyone should take this training,” Naughton said. “Having the chance to see it laid out in a way that can allow us to think differently about how we interact with one another on a daily basis can be life-changing.”
MHFA is offered in Vermont through partnerships at NEKLS, Northern Vermont Regional Hospital, Northeast Kingdom Human Services, and Vermont Care Partners. The training is free and can accommodate up to 30 participants. For more information or to schedule a session, email [email protected].
Originally reported by Newport Dispatch.
Photo: Leeloo The First via Pexels. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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