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Identify. Understand. Respond.

Mental Health First Aid Matters

When more people are equipped with the tools they need to start a dialogue, more people can get the help they need.

Animated mental health image
Recruit

Recruit

18,000 total participants in 511 regional AHEC activities and programs

Learn about recruitment efforts by AHEC
Train

Train

Facilitated 3,327 total student rotations in clinical pursuits across Georgia

Learn about training efforts by AHEC
Retain

Retain

Partnered with 1,139 professionals to mentor graduating students

Learn about retentions efforts by AHEC
  • Augusta University
  • AHEC
  • Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), an internationally recognized program, trains participants in mental health literacy, understanding risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns and strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations.

Eight-hour courses are given by our MHFA certified instructors. Topics covered include:

  • Depression
  • Mood Disorders
  • Anxiety
  • Trauma
  • Psychosis
  • Substance Abuse

Contact Us

Area Health Education Centers

 Health Sciences Campus

G. Lombard Kelly Building

AA-1057

1120 15th Street

706-721-8331

706-721-8508

 

Register for Training

Sign up to increase your mental health literacy

Register for Training

Request an Event

Provide MHFA training for your workplace

Request an Event

Meet Our Trainers

Our certified trainers cover all regions of GA

Meet Our Trainers

Meet our Trainers

The Georgia Statewide AHEC Network is proud to support a group of certified trainers who can instruct your group in Adult Mental Health First Aid. Our trainers have each attended a 3-day certification course offered by MHFA USA. Our trainers cover all regions of Georgia and offer a convenient, accessible resource to your group or organization. Visit Mental Health First Aid USA for more info.

photo of Alyssa Ruffa

Alyssa Ruffa

  • Associate Director, Statewide AHEC Network

706-721-8331

aruffa@augusta.edu

photo of Argenail Darrington

Argenail Darrington

  • Project Coordinator
  • Georgia Cancer Center

706-446-0188

adarrington@augusta.edu

photo of Beunka Stephens

Beunka Stephens

  • Academic Advisor
  • Augusta University

706-729-2040

bestephens@augusta.edu

photo of Erin Fitzpatrick Lepp

Erin Fitzpatrick Lepp

  • Associate Professor and Coordinator, Community Engagement and Service Learning
  • Mercer University College of Health Professions

770-608-4590

lepp_ef@mercer.edu

photo of Tamika Baugh-Allen

Tamika Baugh-Allen

  • Clinical Instructor
  • Clayton State University
  • (Metro Atlanta)

678-466-4985

tamikabaugh-allen@clayton.edu

photo of Kedrick Williams

Kedrick Williams

  • Senior Rural Health Project Manager
  • Mercer University
  • (metro Atlanta)

478-301-4714

williams_k2@georgiaruralhealth.org

photo of Naquilla Thomas

Naquilla Thomas

  • Dept. Chair and Asst. Professor of Dental Hygiene
  • Clayton State University

678-466-4911

naquillathomas@clayton.edu

photo of Priscilla Hubbard

Priscilla Hubbard

  • Chief Operating Officer
  • Atlanta Medical Association

404-586-0385

phubbard@atlmed.org

photo of Shanetria Pierson

Shanetria Pierson

  • Preceptor Coordinator
  • SPCC Atlanta AHEC
  • (metro Atlanta)

404-815-4996

shanetria@spcc-atlantaahec.org

photo of Yvette Payton

Yvette Payton

  • Manager of Retention and Technology
  • Three Rivers AHEC
  • (West Central Georgia)

706-507-0894

ypayton@threeriversahec.org

photo of Steven Miracle

Steven Miracle

  • CEO, Georgia Mountains Health Services, Inc
  • (Northeast Georgia)

706-946-5610

smiracle@gamtnhealth.org

photo of Andrew Darley

Andrew Darley

  • Experience Programs Faculty
  • UGA College of Pharmacy
  • (Northeast Georgia)

706-583-0223

badarley@uga.edu

photo of Mandy Hunter

Mandy Hunter

  • Preceptor Coordinator
  • Blue Ridge Area Health Education Center
  • (Northeast Georgia)

706-235-0776

mhunter@blueridgeahec.org

photo of Sharon Jones

Sharon Jones

  • Assistant Professor
  • Clayton State University
  • (Atlanta metro)

251-623-2971

sharonjones@clayton.edu

photo of Kimberly Williams

Kimberly Williams

  • Executive Director
  • Georgia State Medical Association
  • (Metro Atlanta)

770-883-3753

kimberly.williamsphd@gmail.com

photo of Tamara N. Thompson-Jackson

Tamara N. Thompson-Jackson

  • Assistant Professor
  • Clayton State University
  • (Metro Atlanta)

678-466-4954

tamarathompson@clayton.edu

photo of Kathryn Martin

Kathryn Martin

  • Associate Dean, Regional Campuses
  • Augusta University
  • (Northeast Georgia)

912-655-3954

katmartin@augusta.edu

photo of Stacey J. Hoffman, PhD

Stacey J. Hoffman, PhD

  • Assistant Professor
  • Dept. of Physical Therapy
  • Brenau University
  • (northeast Georgia)

(678) 971-1844

shoffman@brenau.edu

photo of Sarah Shirley Pullani, PPDOT

Sarah Shirley Pullani, PPDOT

  • Associate Professor
  • School of Occupational Therapy
  • Brenau University
  • (Northeast Georgia)

(770) 599-7521

sshirley1@brenau.edu

photo of Paula Owens

Paula Owens

  • Academic Success Center Progam Coordinator
  • Augusta University
  • (Northeast Georgia)

706-667-4211

powens3@augusta.edu

photo of Sonya Holmes

Sonya Holmes

  • Academic Advisor
  • Augusta University
  • (Northeast Georgia)

706-731-7979

sholmes7@augusta.edu

photo of Dayna Seymore

Dayna Seymore

  • Student Education and Research Program Manager, MCG Family Medicine
  • Augusta University
  • (Northeast Georgia)

706-721-4075

dseymore@augusta.edu

photo of Leslie Preveaux

Leslie Preveaux

  • Student Support Coordinator
  • (Northeast Georgia)

770-219-8136

leslie.preveaux@nghs.com

photo of Rhonda Slocumb

Rhonda Slocumb

  • Assistant Professor
  • Georgia Southwestern State University

229-931-2603

rhonda.slocumb@gsw.edu

photo of Tamerah N. Hunt, PhD, AT, FACSM

Tamerah N. Hunt, PhD, AT, FACSM

  • Associate Professor
  • Georgia Southern University (southeast Georgia)

912-478-8620

thunt@georgiasouthern.edu

photo of B.J. Newell, MEd

B.J. Newell, MEd

  • Assistant Professor
  • Georgia Southern University
  • (Southeast Georgia)

912-478-2674

bnewell@georgiasouthern.edu

Marcena Gabrielson, PhD, RN

  • Assistant Professor
  • Georgia Southern University
  • (Southeast Georgia)

912-344-2659

mgabrielson@georgiasouthern.edu

photo of Tilicia Mayo-Gamble

Tilicia Mayo-Gamble

  • Assistant Professor
  • Georgia Southern University
  • (Southeast Georgia)

912-478-1249

tmayogamble@georgiasouthern.edu

photo of Yvonne Z. Dillon, RDMS (Abd, ObGyn)

Yvonne Z. Dillon, RDMS (Abd, ObGyn)

  • Clinical Coordinator/Senior Lecturer
  • Georgia Southern University
  • (Southeast Georgia)

912-344-2779

ydillon@georgiasouthern.edu

photo of Joel Vandenbergh

Joel Vandenbergh

  • Eastern Counties Coordinator
  • ASPIRE Behavioral Health Services
  • (Southwest Georgia)

229-430-5100

jvandenbergh@albanycsb.org

photo of Paula Bryant

Paula Bryant

  • Associate Dean & Professor
  • Georgia Southwestern State University
  • (Southwest Georgia)

478-290-8482

Paula.Bryant@gsw.edu

photo of Kay Brooks Hatfield

Kay Brooks Hatfield

  • Executive Director
  • Aspire Behavioral Health & Development Disability Services
  • (Southwest Georgia)

229-430-4005

khatfield@albanycsb.org

photo of Krystal Heath

Krystal Heath

  • Operations Manager
  • Northwest Medical & Dental Center, AAPHC Renaissance Center

229-405-6196 ext. 4509

krystal.heath@aaphc.org

photo of Paula Stover

Paula Stover

  • Associate Professor
  • Georgia Highlands College
  • (Northwest Georgia)

706-346-6053

pstover@highlands.edu

photo of Emily Elrod

Emily Elrod

  • Corporate Consultant
  • Workzbe
  • (Northwest Georgia)

706-581-2943

emily@workzbe.com

This program was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services as part of award no. U77HP03628. This program is also supported by the Georgia Department of Community Health award number 19001G. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the US Government.

For Your Workplace

Request Mental Health First Aid Training

Please provide some information about the group that you would like to receive MHFA training.

Fill out our online form to request training at your location.

Serving Georgia’s Communities Since 1984

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