By Keri Hill, Volunteer Coordinator for Veterans Services of the Carolinas
Most of us know what to do if someone has a heart attack. We call 911. We begin CPR if we’re trained. We don’t hesitate because we’ve been taught that every second matters.
But what happens when someone is having a mental health crisis?
Too often, we freeze.
We worry we’ll say the wrong thing. We don’t know what to look for. We hope someone else will step in. And sometimes, because of that uncertainty, people suffer in silence.
That’s exactly why Mental Health First Aid exists.
Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based training that equips everyday people, not just counselors, doctors, or first responders, to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges and substance use concerns. More importantly, it teaches participants how to respond with confidence, compassion, and practical support until appropriate professional help can be found.
Think of it as first aid for the mind.
Just as traditional first aid doesn’t make someone a physician, Mental Health First Aid doesn’t make someone a therapist. What it does is empower ordinary people to become extraordinary neighbors.
Imagine if every church had members trained to recognize when someone is struggling.
Imagine if every workplace had employees who knew how to approach a coworker showing signs of anxiety, depression, or burnout.
Imagine if every school, civic club, nonprofit, and community organization had people equipped to respond instead of retreat.
That’s how communities become healthier. Not because everyone becomes an expert, but because more people become willing to notice, listen, and care.
As someone who is married to a combat veteran, I am fully aware of the stigma that still exists, even in 2026. As a chaplain, I’ve also had the privilege of sitting with people on some of the hardest days of their lives. One thing I’ve learned is this: people rarely expect us to have all the answers. They simply need someone who is willing to see them, hear them, and walk beside them until help arrives.
Mental Health First Aid gives people the tools to do exactly that.
It also helps break down the stigma surrounding mental health. The more we learn, the less we fear. The more we understand, the more compassion replaces judgment. Conversations that once felt awkward become opportunities to offer hope.
Our communities are facing unprecedented levels of stress, isolation, grief, trauma, and anxiety. Chances are, someone in your family, your workplace, your church, or your neighborhood is carrying a burden you cannot see.
You don’t have to be a professional to make a difference.
You just have to be prepared.
Taking a Mental Health First Aid course is an investment not only in yourself, but in every person whose path may cross yours. You may never know when the skills you learn will help someone choose hope over despair, connection over isolation, or treatment over suffering.
The question isn’t whether you’ll encounter someone struggling with their mental health.
The question is: Will you know what to do when you do?
Because sometimes the most powerful thing we can offer isn’t a solution.
It’s simply being the person who knows how to take the first step.
If you’re interested in bringing Mental Health First Aid to your church, workplace, nonprofit, or community group, I’d love to help. Together, we can build communities where people are equipped not only to recognize a crisis, but to respond with compassion, confidence, and hope. Email me at keri.hill@abccm.org to begin a conversation!
