Mental Health First Response Certificate

5 Courses
11 Units
Online Self-Paced
24 Weeks

Become a Leader & Advocate with Mental Health First Responder Training

Take an individual course or work toward earning a certificate with multiple courses!

In much the same way that traditional first aid is designed to save the life of a person in crisis, Mental Health First Response focuses on saving lives by recognizing the emotional distress, depression and other issues impacting students.

This certificate program is designed to give educators the tools they need to make an impact in their schools — particularly with regard to issues that are increasingly leading to suicide, violence and harm to self or others when not appropriately addressed in a timely manner.

Teachers and administrators will learn the skills necessary to make appropriate referrals and respond to emotional, mental and social issues within the school setting. Our mental health certificate program will empower educators to become mental health first responders.

Mental Health Training for Educators Certificate Requirements

Complete the requirements below to earn a professional Mental Health First Response Certificate. The certificate can be completed in as few as 6 months. Learn more about the University of San Diego’s Professional and Continuing Education Certificate Benefits and Policies.

Schedule & Fees

Courses – Enroll in Individual Courses, or Earn a Certificate with Required Courses (11 Units)

All courses from this stream are required for completion of this certificate
Course Date Units Price
Introduction to Mental Health First Response [EDU-X791J] Start now, you have 180 days to complete this course once enrolled 3 $504
Start now, you have 180 days to complete this course once enrolled
3
$504
Online Self-Paced
Monica Hubert

Introduction to Mental Health First Response two-unit course for teachers

Once you have enrolled in your course, log in to your account to access the course Welcome Letter, which includes directions on how to access the Online Orientation and your online course.

Mental Health Prevention Programs and Process [EDU-X792J] Start now, you have 180 days to complete this course once enrolled 2 $317
Start now, you have 180 days to complete this course once enrolled
2
$317
Online Self-Paced
Monica Hubert

Mental Health Prevention Programs and Process two-unit course for teachers

Once you have enrolled in your course, log in to your account to access the course Welcome Letter, which includes directions on how to access the Online Orientation and your online course.

Mental Health Triage [EDU-X793J] Start now, you have 180 days to complete this course once enrolled 2 $317
Start now, you have 180 days to complete this course once enrolled
2
$317
Online Self-Paced
Monica Hubert

Mental Health online two-unit course for teachers

Once you have enrolled in your course, log in to your account to access the course Welcome Letter, which includes directions on how to access the Online Orientation and your online course.

Mental Health Matters [EDU-X794J] Start now, you have 180 days to complete this course once enrolled 2 $317
Start now, you have 180 days to complete this course once enrolled
2
$317
Online Self-Paced
Monica Hubert

Mental Health Online two-unit course for teachers

Once you have enrolled in your course, log in to your account to access the course Welcome Letter, which includes directions on how to access the Online Orientation and your online course.

Mental Health Re-entry [EDU-X795J] Start now, you have 180 days to complete this course once enrolled 2 $317
Start now, you have 180 days to complete this course once enrolled
2
$317
Online Self-Paced
Monica Hubert

Mental Health First Response Certificate Program is a series four two-unit courses designed for educators dealing with the topic of mental health in their schools

Once you have enrolled in your course, log in to your account to access the course Welcome Letter, which includes directions on how to access the Online Orientation and your online course.

$45
$1,817

Learning Method Information

Online Self-Paced

Our online self-paced courses are similar to online fixed-date courses, but are designed to give you a six-month period from time of enrollment to complete all assignments. Your instructor will provide feedback via written responses on your assignments and exams. Grades are based on completed projects, assignments and exams.

How is the self-paced course structured? Like fixed-date courses, online self-paced courses are asynchronous meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime; the difference being there are no assigned due dates in self-paced courses. The content is divided into learning modules. Each module will cover one or more topics. Within each of the learning modules, you can expect the following components:

  • Module introduction that outlines what you can expect to learn in the module.
  • Required readings (textbook, articles, journals, websites, etc.) and presentations (audio and/or video).
  • Assignments (which may include: written assignments, quizzes, blogs, etc.) based on the readings and presentations.
  • Module conclusion to review the topics and what you should have learned.
  • Typically, there is a final project, paper, or exam due in the last module that culminates all of the topics covered in each of the learning modules. You’ll find that the design of the learning modules has a rhythm to help you manage your time in the course.

Mental Health Certificate Curriculum 

Enroll in individual courses of your choice within the series to earn graduate level extension credits. We recommend that you start with Introduction to Mental Health First Response first, and then the remaining courses in any order. For more information about our mental health first response certificate courses, please refer to the schedule and list of courses at the top of the page.

What You Will Learn

Who Should Attend

K-12 educators, as well as other school professionals, such as school nurses, psychologists, counselors and administrators are excellent candidates for this course. Parents and school volunteers can also benefit from this program.

Benefits

Among the many benefits of our mental health first response certificate program, participants who complete one or all of the courses will be equipped to:

Instructors

Professional development courses offered by the University of San Diego’s Division of Professional & Continuing Education are taught by faculty that possess a depth and breadth of academic and real-world professional experience.

Careers Outlook

Employment opportunities in the education field — including adult education — are expected to grow by almost 1 million new jobs by 2030 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). With so many new and emerging opportunities, adult learning institutions and programs are going to have to compete heavily to attract and retain the most talented educators.

This makes furthering your education and diversifying your teaching skill set all the more important. By growing your expertise in a wide variety of educational concepts, you will broaden your career prospects and become a valuable asset in any learning environment.

Industry Insights

10 %

Job growth

$57,220

Median salary


Career Opportunities

District Level Professional Development Provider
Instructional Coach
Academic Director
Conference Speaker
Workplace Trainer
Continuing Education Instructor
Anyone interested in leading other adults through trainings, workshops, or presentations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the requirements for completing a certificate program?

Requirements for completing a certificate can be found on the certificate page.

Are the continuing education courses transferable to a master degree program?

Professional and Continuing Education courses that are transferrable to a USD master degree will be stated on the course or certificate page. If you wish to transfer credit, it is your responsibility to confer with the receiving institution before enrolling, as each
individual academic institution decides whether or not to accept USD Professional and Continuing Education credit.

How long do I have to complete the Certificate?

You have five years to complete the certificate.

What are your registration/drop/refund policies?

Click here for complete details regarding our refund, drop and transfer policies

What if I can’t get into a course because it is full?

Prospective students can request to be placed on a waitlist. Should a space open up in a course, those on the waitlist will be notified. We encourage you to register early for courses.

Why USD?

The Professional and Continuing Education program nurtures key partnerships on the local, national, and international level. The goal is to better serve working professionals who seek to enhance or build their careers and help achieve their highest value and potential. Contact us today to learn more.

Informative Stats and Facts

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5 REASONS WHY CONTINUING EDUCATION MATTERS FOR EDUCATORS

The education industry is always changing and evolving, perhaps now more than ever. Learn how you can be prepared by downloading our eBook.