The purpose of this assessment was to evaluate the institutional benefit of division-wide Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training approved by the Student Affairs Leadership Team (SALT) in May 2025 and implemented as part of the 2025 All SA & SBS Summer Retreat.
In January 2023, the Maricopa Community Colleges District (MCCCD) participated in the Hope Center Basic Needs Survey, establishing both district-wide and college-specific baselines. Nearly 6,000 students district-wide responded, including approximately 700 students from Estrella Mountain Community College. EMCC results indicated that 45% of respondents experienced depression, 27% experienced anxiety, and 28% reported unmet mental health needs. These datasets increase the likelihood that frontline staff will encounter students who may be experiencing mental health events, especially as the EMCC student population continues to grow. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reported in 2025 that 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year. 2024 data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicates 12.1% of U.S. adults regularly report worry, nervousness, or anxiety. These data illustrate that mental health support for EMCC employees themselves is also important, and that training for a broad range of employees supports EMCC's strategic priorities for well-being.
These data underscore the institutional need to intentionally prepare and support frontline staff who are most likely to encounter or notice early signs of student concerns. EMCC has offered MHFA training for employees over the years, with many employees across the institution participating. Qualitative feedback from former EMCC employees who completed the training indicated that it increased confidence and preparedness within appropriate boundaries. Past participants shared that the training helped them feel more confident responding to concerns “within my area of control” and better equipped to offer empathetic, non-judgmental support while directing individuals to appropriate resources. By Spring 2026, roughly 20% of Student Affairs full-time staff had completed the MHFA, despite its frequent offering.
MHFA Key Learning Outcomes:
- Recognizing early and worsening signs of mental health and substance use challenges
- Applying the MHFA Action Plan (ALGEE) in both non-crisis and crisis situations
- Responding with appropriate safety, privacy, and nonjudgmental communication practices
- Referring students and colleagues to appropriate professional and campus-based supports
- Practicing self-care following mental health response situations
Given the national external recognition and established training program, and that EMCC already participates in the training, MHFA training was selected as the professional development tool. This training sought to provide relevant professional development, proactively prepare front-line staff for student demands, and identify lessons to inform future professional development investments. Because MHFA training requires both financial investment and staff time, it was necessary to evaluate outcomes to determine if this investment effectively strengthened staff readiness, maintained appropriate role boundaries, and informed best practices for future training approaches.
Following SALT approval in May 2025, MHFA training was implemented using a structured, multi-phase approach. Throughout implementation, MHFA was framed as a skills-based awareness and referral training. Participation did not make employees responsible for personally handling mental health crises, require them to act in a counseling capacity, or obligate them to engage with individuals beyond their existing professional roles. The Vice President of Student Affairs allocated funds to secure additional licenses for full-time staff to complete the training.
- In May, several staff members who had previously completed the certification were trained to assist with the group training scheduled for June.
- In June, staff completed self-paced online pre-work to introduce core MHFA concepts and prepare for the in-person training session.
- The instructor-led MHFA training was delivered on June 26, 2025 as part of the All SA & SBS Summer Retreat.
- After the retreat, staff completed online post-work in early to mid-July. Training participation and completion data were reviewed in Fall 2025 to assess outcomes, identify implementation insights, and inform future professional development planning.
A total of 52 Student Affairs staff were enrolled in the MHFA training. Of those, 38 staff members completed all required components, resulting in a 73% completion rate. Completion reflects attainment of a nationally recognized MHFA credential focused on recognizing warning signs, applying the MHFA Action Plan (ALGEE), and identifying appropriate referral pathways.
In addition to completion outcomes, meaningful feedback emerged regarding the depth and emotional intensity of the training. Several employees indicated that the content was "emotionally heavier” and more advanced than anticipated. While many participants valued the depth of the training, several staff reported that aspects of the content were challenging and, in some cases, prompted negative or emotionally difficult reactions. Staff feedback indicated that a voluntary participation model may be more effective given differences in role relevance. Participation also supported the need to continue building awareness of mental health resources.
Lesson learned was the need for stronger pre-training preparation, including clearer communication about the content and a clearer framework for how the training aligns with service roles. Additionally, consolidating the instructor-led training into a single day was challenging, and distributing content across multiple sessions may better support engagement.
Despite these challenges, overall feedback indicated that training in this area is valuable and necessary to prepare our staff to support students. The experience clarified that future implementations should incorporate clearer expectations to ensure the training is both effective and appropriately supportive for participants. Future MHFA training sessions will continue to be provided by the Fitness and Wellness Supervisor, offering voluntary options for employees who were unable to complete the training in June, as well as for those new to the Student Affairs division who would like to participate. Future MHFA training sessions are also open to all college employees.
This assessment examined the institutional impact of division-wide Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training for Student Affairs staff at Estrella Mountain Community College. After analyzing survey data indicating elevated student mental health needs, 52 staff enrolled and 38 completed certification, increasing division-wide certification from 20% to 83%. Results indicate strengthened frontline readiness and referral capacity, while highlighting the need for clearer expectations, adjusted pacing, and enhanced employee support resources in future trainings.