Mental Health and Suicide Awareness Training programs
Class Descriptions and Instructor Information
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These programs, funded by Boulder County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, recognize that the pandemic disparately impacted the population of mountain and rural communities, those isolated by COVID-19, people with disabilities, older adults, those aging in place or homebound, youth and parents, LGBTQ+, and Latinx.
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The pandemic showed how social isolation can affect the mental health of not just individual members of a community but how a general feeling can spread throughout the whole community. The mountain region is already isolated by geography, technology, and the “I’m okay” mentality. Training the engaged folks of the area supports the community and helps with social resiliency. It provides a baseline of knowledge and helps eliminate the stigma around mental health issues.
The Mental Health Training Program focuses on in-person Mental Health First Aid, QPR, and safeTalk training. These nationally recognized programs are taught by certified trainers with connections to the Mountain Community to ensure cultural and situational relevancy.
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The training is designed for the general public, but some sessions will focus on specific communities within the region. Attendees could also access information about other resources, such as basic needs support, harm reduction, and counseling.
2026 Schedule TBD
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Mental Health First Aid
Lunch and refreshments provided
MHFA is an evidence-based, early-intervention course that teaches challenges and interventions for mental health and substance use challenges.
It focuses on how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use
problem or experiencing a crisis.
Mental Health First Aiders are…
Teachers, first responders and veterans. They’re neighbors, parents and friends. They’re
people in recovery, and those supporting a loved one. Mental Health First Aiders are anyone
who wants to make their community healthier, happier and safer for all.
Instructor
John Kellow has over 27 years of experience in mental health, having worked in both inpatient
psychiatric facilities and provided psychiatric triage in medical settings. While completing over
13,000 psychiatric and substance abuse assessments, he identified a crucial pattern in crisis
situations. Recognizing the pivotal moments in individuals' lives where timely mental health
support could have averted or intervened in crises, he embarked on a mission.
In 2013, John became a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructor and played a pivotal role as a
founding member of Supporting Action for Mental Health (SAMh) in Longmont. Over six years, he
passionately trained over 2,000 community members in MHFA, QPR, SafeTALK and actively
engaged in numerous community events and conversations. His primary objective was to enhance
community awareness regarding effective support for those facing mental health challenges. In
2018 John was recognized as the MHFA instructor of the year for Colorado.
This is a certificate-level training but you don’t have to be pursuing a certificate to attend.
Course: 2 hours pre-work. 6 hours plus lunch and breaks.
Mental Health First Aid USA is managed, operated, and disseminated by the:
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Missouri Department of Mental Health​​
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Class Descriptions and Instructor Information
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