How It Began
At an international conference in 2003, Dr. Benedetto Saraceno, then director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse for the World Health Organization (WHO), challenged counselors to focus their efforts on serving the more than 450 million people worldwide with little or no access to mental health services. In response to an initial collaboration with WHO, The National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. and Affiliates (NBCC) developed a framework for what is now the Mental Health Facilitator (MHF) program.
Who It Is For
Mental health care is one of the least addressed aspects of overall health care worldwide. Mental health care providers, of which there are already an insufficient number, are overburdened. Serious mental health issues present an enormous financial and social burden, especially in developing countries. The MHF program was conceived to address all of these issues while also providing what is most needed—increased service capacity.
The MHF is a training program designed to provide foundational mental health skills and education to paraprofessionals, laypeople, and professionals from outside of mental health. It is not designed to create a separate profession. Rather, the MHF program fights stigma and increases service capacity by training individuals who come into contact with others in the course of their daily jobs or functions to identify, refer, and support those with mental health needs.
What It Is
All curricula include training on helping skills, diversity, violence and trauma, suicide prevention, and referral and consultation skills. Upon completing the training, participants receive a certificate of completion and are included in the international MHF registry.
The MHF Process
Curricula
Mental Health Facilitator-ASAP!
(MHF-ASAP!)
Abridged curriculum for the general population.
12 hours
Mental Health Facilitator-ASAP! Trainer
(MHF-ASAP! Trainer)
Requirements
a. An appropriate college/university undergraduate degree (or equivalent) which includes a mental health component;
b. Verifiable training or experience as an educator, instructor, or presenter related to subjects in a mental health field, as determined by NBCC;
c. Successful completion of an NBCC-approved MHF Trainer training, which includes a teaching component under the supervision of an MHF Master Trainer; and,
d. Acceptance of the required MHF Trainer Agreement.
14 hours
Mental Health Facilitator
(MHF)
Curriculum designed for use in the general population.
30 hours
Mental Health Facilitator
Trainer
(MHF Trainer)
Requirements
a. An appropriate college/university undergraduate degree (or equivalent) which includes a mental health component;
b. Verifiable training or experience as an educator, instructor, or presenter related to subjects in a mental health field, as determined by NBCC;
c. Successful completion of an NBCC-approved MHF Trainer training, which includes a teaching component under the supervision of an MHF Master Trainer; and,
d. Acceptance of the required MHF Trainer Agreement.
35 hours
Curricula
