The Licking County Health Department is offering a free Mental Health First Aid Training on Thursday, Aug. 6, at Licking County Aging Partners in Newark.
The training will take place at 1058 East Main Street, Newark, and is open to individuals who live or work in Licking and Knox counties, as well as other Central Ohio communities.
Residents from Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Hocking, Madison, Marion, Perry, Pickaway, and Union counties are also eligible to participate. Registration is capped at 30 participants and will close on Thursday, July 30, with early sign‑ups encouraged since spaces are filled on a first‑come, first‑served basis.
The program is designed to help attendees identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. By offering practical tools and expanded content on trauma, substance use, and self‑care, the training equips participants to better support those in crisis and connect them with appropriate help.
The training will cover several key areas, including recognizing common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges, learning how to interact with a person in crisis, and understanding how to connect individuals with professional support. Participants will also gain insight into trauma‑related issues and strategies for self‑care, making the course valuable for both personal and professional settings.
This opportunity is part of a broader effort to strengthen community awareness and response to mental health needs across Central Ohio. By equipping residents with practical skills, the Health Department aims to foster safer, more supportive environments in workplaces, families, and neighborhoods.
According to the department's announcement, this initiative is funded either in whole or in part by a grant from the Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Health Improvement and Wellness, Violence and Injury Prevention Section, through a sub‑award of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Overdose Data to Action grant.
For further information on how to register, visit the Licking County Health Department Facebook page, contact them at 740‑349‑6535, or email [email protected].
