Mental Health First Aid at Chester Mental Health Center: 22 Individuals, One Shared Purpose
- Jun 19
- 2 min read
I taught my first two-day Adult Mental Health First Aid class solo—and it was nothing short of transformative.
Earlier this year, I had a quiet goal I never told anyone: to show up authentically and not water myself down.
I wasn’t sure how it would go. The class was the largest I've ever had (22 participants), in a maximum-security forensic mental health facility. My co-instructor couldn’t make it, which meant it was all me.
By day two, moments emerged that I’ll never forget:
Everyone returned for day two—even some who came on their day off—smiling as they walked in.
During an activity on giving reassurance, one participant went off script… with a curse word. I didn’t scold her. Instead, I thanked her for bringing her own authenticity, because real life isn’t scripted. The room leaned in. Energy flowed. Learning stuck.
Some stayed afterward to talk with me—not about the slides, but about how the training made them feel and how they could use it in real life.
It reminded me why I do this work: to empower people. To help them leave the room feeling capable of responding when someone is struggling. To give them confidence that they can make a difference.
This experience confirmed what I already knew deep down: teaching, facilitating, and speaking about mental health is a place I love to be, even when it’s scary. It’s where I feel the most alive—like a surfer in the tube, riding the flow of the room.
Take a course, save a life. It's that simple.
If your organization has considered Mental Health First Aid training, I’d love to connect and share this work.
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