You’re there to support your client’s physical health, be there when they’re facing mental health challenges too.
I wish every fitness professional felt as confident discussing how to cope with anxiety or where to find a therapist as they do sharing the importance of exercise.
As fitness instructors and personal trainers, we do so much more than just encourage people to move their bodies more throughout the day.
You’re the cheerleader, the accountability partner, and the confidant. Your clients open up to you about their lives, both the ups and the down.
And there’s probably been times when you were worried. Concerned maybe something more was going on than what they were sharing with you.
Or maybe they shared the difficult thoughts and challenging emotions they were facing, and you didn’t know what to say or how to help. Maybe you feared saying the wrong thing.
You don’t need to be a counselor or a therapist to help someone through a mental health challenge.
You need an action plan that will help you spot when someone needs extra support, find the words to show you care, and feel prepared to open the door to conversations about depression, panic attacks, and other mental health and substance use challenges.
- Self-paced online course (2 hrs.) to be completed before instructor-led portion of training
- Live interactive instructor-led training to practice applying Mental Health First Aid action steps (6.5 hrs. between two days)
- Evidence-based training
- Get certified in just two days! Option to renew every three years
- Enroll for just $99 with early registration
- Follow-up coaching calls and continuing education offered
Mental Health First Aid has become a full-blown movement in the United States — with more than 3 million people certified and that number is growing every day.
As a Mental Health First Aider you can..
- Hold space for your clients to openly share what they’re struggling with, without feeling like you’re adding more weight to your own shoulders.
- Feel comfortable asking the tough questions and initiating conversations with your clients’ about their mental health.
- Know what to say to provide reassurance and encourage clients to seek help when needed.
- Feel better equipped to cope with the often stressful and unique demands of being a fitness professional, because we do so much more than just teach!
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until our next course!
Upcoming Training Dates for TWO- DAY Virtual Mental Health First Aid:
- June 10th & 11th 9:30AM – 1:00PM (PST)
- July 15th & 16th 9:30AM – 1:00 (PST)
- July 31st & Aug 1st 9:30AM – 1:00 (PST)
- Aug 12th & 13th 9:30AM – 1:00 (PST)
- More dates to be announced!
You must be 18 years or older to attend this course.
Private courses are also available. If you’d like to set up a private course for your studio or gym, please contact mindfulfitpro@gmail.com
Regularly $170, with early registration you can get certified in Mental Health First Aid for just $99.
Mindful Fit Pro newsletter subscribers also receive an additional 20% off registration, so be sure to check your emails!
Want to be the first to hear when Mental Health First Aid courses are offered?
Fitness professionals who get certified in Mental Health First Aid…
- Establish a deeper connection and sense of trust with their clients.
- Build confidence in their ability to recognize when a client is struggling and needs additional support.
- Provide support for their clients’ mental health, without needing to be a counselor or therapist
- Create a referral network that includes professional mental health services
- Expand their own self-care toolkit that prioritizes mental wellbeing
You can be an advocate within your studio or gym #BeTheDifference
Why should all fitness professionals know Mental Health First Aid?
Every two years you renew your CPR certification, right? So, why don’t we do the same for mental health education?
Do you know the signs your client may be struggling? Would you know what to say if you were concerned about their mental health? Or where to refer out to if they needed professional help?
Many people in the United States experience mental health challenges, 1 in 5 actually. When people are looking to improve their mental wellbeing, often they’ll turn to working out to help manage stress and boost their mood.
This places us, as fitness professionals, in a prime position to be an advocate for mental wellness, model self-help strategies, and connect our clients with mental health professionals if needed.
Here are some of the main reasons I think all fitness professionals should be trained in Mental Health First Aid…
You want to help but aren’t sure what to say.
The important thing is that you care and this will come across to your students and clients. Mental Health First Aid teaches you how body language and non-judgmental listening can make a powerful impact. With an informed view of mental health challenges, a look at cultural considerations, and a holistic perspective to care, you can help others and empower them to help themselves. You’ll also get some guidance on what is helpful to say and some insight on what it not-so-helpful, so you feel confident discussing mental health.
You’re already helping people with their physical health, with Mental Health First Aid you can support their mental health too.
As leaders in fitness, you are skilled in helping people improve their physical health. You are also at times the very first line of support people have when they’re struggling. Your clients come to you looking to let off steam or decompress after a long day at work. One of my early-riser clients shared that they HAVE to work out early in the morning to “get their mind in the best place” before heading in to work.
While physical activity is a great preventative measure, some of your clients are likely already struggling with their mental health. Mental Health First Aid does not make us counselors or therapists, suddenly able to help our clients overcome all of their struggles, but it does prepare us with the knowledge of what to say when we’re concerned.
Everyone is talking about mental health. You can inspire hope and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
Don’t get me wrong, I love that we are shifting the norm and talking more about mental health. But how many of these conversations are highlighting hope and that recovery is possible? Mental Health First Aid training makes sure these conversations include discussion of the many available avenues for support and the many resources out there. Help is available. There are so many people who make a career out of helping people through mental health challenges but sometimes it takes someone to “reach in” rather than waiting for an individual in need to reach out for help.