Many of us who have lost a loved one from suicide wish we'd known what to do or say before, and during, the crisis. Perhaps this training could help? Family members and friends often wonder how to help—perhaps this is a tool they could use?

The National Council says it "will bring Mental Health First Aid to the United States by training our member organizations—community-based providers of mental health and addiction services—to lead and manage certification programs in their communities. As provider organizations already connected with other health care groups, community leaders, advocates and families, National Council members are uniquely positioned to educate their communities, promote the certification program and to provide effective, culturally-relevant training across broad audiences. The National Council will launch the certification program in May 2008 in 10 locations across the country."

DBSA has shared its concerns about the concept of mental health first aid with the National Council. They have embraced the notion of working with our organization and other consumers to ensure that the program they teach is reworked to reflect consumer values and is appropriately positioned within a recovery context.

What do you think of mental health first aid? Where do you sit on this particular fence?