MSU Extension helps launch Michigan’s first-ever Mental Health First Aid Instructor Summit
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EmailAttracting attendees from all across the state, the event gave MHFA instructors a chance to learn, network and celebrate.
Every day, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructors equip and support people with the skills to respond to mental health crises. This month, those instructors came together to receive support — for a day dedicated to learning, connecting and recognizing the difference they’re making in communities statewide.
On April 16, 2025, Michigan State University Extension, Hope Network, and Mental Health Training Consultants partnered to host the first-ever Michigan Mental Health First Aid Instructor Summit. Held in Grand Rapids, the inaugural summit drew 80 MHFA instructors and coordinators from 26 counties across the state, representing about 7% of all instructors working in the state.
“It was wonderful to see such a wide range of instructors coming together,” said Carly Sandoval, an MSU Extension health educator who serves as program lead for the Adult Mental Health First Aid program.
Mental Health First Aid is an international, evidence-based training that teaches participants how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a mental health crisis and help someone who may be experiencing one. Grounded in messages of hope and recovery, this program helps break down the misinformation surrounding mental health and helps trainees understand how they can play a role in the “first response” to mental health issues.
“Mental Health First Aid gives people the tools they need to help someone experiencing a mental health issue, and connect them to the care and resources they need to recover,” said Sandoval.
To plan the event, Sandoval worked alongside MSU Extension educator Kea Norrell-Aitch, an MSU Extension healthy living educator who serves as the Youth and Teen Mental Health First Aid coordinator, and administrative assistant Sylvia Benavidez.
Throughout the day, instructors dove into breakout sessions and presentations led by 12 seasoned Adult, Youth and Teen MHFA trainers. From new teaching techniques to practical tips for organizing community sessions, the event focused on strengthening instructors’ skills and their sense of connection with one another.
“Working in mental health can be challenging and taxing at times,” said Sandoval. “That’s why professional support can be so important.”
After the event, attendees reported an increase in confidence around teaching and coordinating MHFA. As one participant shared, “It was great to see other Michigan instructors. I feel more comfortable reaching out to people for collaboration.”
For others, the summit provided a spark of energy and inspiration.
“It was nice to feel re-energized again,” one participant said.
Sandoval said she hoped the summit laid the groundwork for “a more unified MHFA network” in Michigan.
And as that network grows, so too does our collective ability to respond to mental health challenges with compassion and skill — strengthening families, workplaces and communities across the state.
“We’re hopeful this will be the first of many more years of MHFA summits to come,” Sandoval said.
To learn more or sign up for a MHFA class near you, visit MSU Extension's Mental Health First Aid website.
