FCC students trained in Mental Health First Aid

Frederick Community College student Jay Nedwick believes everyone should “learn a little bit more about mental health.”

And that’s exactly what FCC students did last month when Frederick Community College hosted a Mental Health First Aid training session. The event was free to students and faculty who wanted to gain their certification.

Nedwick, 23, attended Mental Health First Aid training with the hope of advancing his career in business. The third-year FCC student business major often works with his community through his job as a bank teller.

Nedwick’s experience with client interactions daily pushed him to take this training. When people come to him with financial issues, he said he wants his clients to be comfortable forming a bond with him.

FCC offers many sessions of Mental Health First Aid training throughout the year. Community members must sign up and complete virtual training prior to their scheduled in-person training. The in-person training takes place over seven and a half hours.

After completing the training, attendees are given a certificate from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. This certificate is valid for three years.

“I would definitely want to renew it,” Nedwick said.

The student equates the importance of MHFA training to basic health training and CPR certification.

Nedwick’s personal connection to the struggles many face with mental health is why he believes this training is important. After six years of therapy, Nedwick wanted to find ways he could help those around him.

“I think everybody should get certified or at least learn a little bit more about mental health,” Nedwick said. “I think that there is still a very big stigma around it.”

Nedwick said although newer generations are becoming more open-minded about mental health, there are still some who do not understand it. He wants people to be more understanding of others’ mental health and compassionate without judgment.

Thanks to his classmates, Nedwick said he learned more than just about mental health in class.

“I honestly think the other people in there have taught me a lot,” Nedwick said. “You get to see the different perspectives and how other people interpret certain ways of thinking.”