Training Spanish-Speaking Latinx Adults in Mental Health First Aid: A Pilot Feasibility Trial

The dispersion of the Latinx population across the United States has resulted in mental health service gaps in communities that are experiencing rapid growth. We formed a community-academic partnership to assess the feasibility of training Latinx residents in an evidence-based mental health intervention and to pilot outcome measures. Spanishspeaking Latinx adults were trained in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), a program that provides participants with skills and knowledge about mental health issues. The MHFA training was well-received as evidenced by participants’ reported satisfaction with the training and their engagement in the 2 days of training. Twenty-three participants attended the first day of training, and 20 participants attended the second day of training (including two participants who did not attend on Day 1). Results of a paired t test indicated significant mean differences in mental health knowledge and help-seeking self-efficacy after training (d = 0.51 and 0.75, respectively). Focus group (n = 13) results provide further support that the training increased participants’ mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviors. Focus group participants also discussed cultural stressors faced by their community that negatively affect mental health and agreed that offering more trainings such as MHFA could help promote mental health in the Latinx community. Training Latinx residents in mental health interventions is feasible and may help address mental health access barriers.