The Intersection of Health and Justice: An Evaluation of Mental Health First Aid Training for Justice-involved Professionals.

This article evaluates the impact of the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training program on justice-involved professionals, specifically law enforcement and corrections staff, focusing on its effects on knowledge, attitudes, self-confidence, and helping intentions toward people with mental illness (PwMI). The study, conducted with 85 participants from a northern Arizona police department, found that after completing the 8-hour MHFA course, participants showed significant improvements in recognizing mental health disorders, reduced stigmatizing attitudes, increased confidence in providing help, and greater intention to assist PwMI according to the ALGEE action plan. While the study supports MHFA as a promising, resource-efficient complement to more intensive Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, it notes limitations including reliance on self-reported data, lack of a control group, and the need for long-term behavioral outcome research. The findings align with the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s "One Mind Campaign" goal to equip justice professionals with skills to safely and effectively respond to mental health crises, highlighting the importance of further research on MHFA’s practical impact within criminal justice settings.