Trainings help you notice when someone is struggling, respond with care and connect them to the right support. The trainings below are free for UNC-Chapel Hill students, faculty and staff, and most can also be requested for a class, department or student organization.
Respond to a mental health crisis
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
An evidence-based training that teaches you to recognize the signs of a mental health or substance use challenge and offer support until professional help is available. Think of it as First Aid or CPR, but for mental health.
- Format: about 1.5 hours of self-paced online work, plus 6 hours of live training, either on Zoom or in person at the UNC School of Social Work
- Certification: 3-year national certification
- Cost: free for anyone affiliated with UNC-Chapel Hill
- Questions: mhfaprogram@unc.edu
See upcoming MHFA dates and register
QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer
A suicide prevention training that teaches you to recognize warning signs, ask directly about suicide and connect someone to help. Like CPR, QPR is an emergency response that can save a life.
- Format: online and self-paced (about 1 hour), or in person (about 90 minutes) by request
- Certification: certificate on completion
- Cost: free for UNC-Chapel Hill students, faculty and staff
- In-person requests: dos@unc.edu
Register for online QPR. The registration code and steps are on the Preventative Measures Menu.
Prevent violence and support survivors
Be That Tar Heel
Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services (VPAS) and Carolina Behavioral Assessment and Management (CBAM) introduce violence prevention and teach you to recognize and safely respond to behaviors that may lead to harm. Learn more about Be That Tar Heel
Bringing in the Bystander
An evidence-based, in-person training from VPAS and CBAM on safe and effective ways to step in before, during and after harassment, violence or discrimination. Learn more about Bringing in the Bystander
Empower UNC: Responding to Disclosures
VPAS and Equal Opportunity and Compliance prepare students and employees to respond with compassion when someone discloses sexual violence, interpersonal violence, stalking or harassment. Learn more about Empower UNC
VPAS also offers other trainings for student groups, classes and departments. Request a VPAS training
Support specific communities
Safe Zone
The LGBTQ Center builds a network of visible allies to the LGBTQIA+ community, with information on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Learn more about Safe Zone
Green Zone
A two-hour training on supporting veteran and military-affiliated students. Learn more about Green Zone
Global Zone
An interactive training for faculty, staff and students on the experiences of international students and scholars, with strategies for supporting their success. Learn more about Global Zone
Embody Carolina
A Campus Y initiative that teaches students how to recognize and support someone struggling with an eating disorder. Learn more about Embody Carolina
Rethink: Psychiatric Illness
Student-led Campus Y trainings on the basics of mental illness, how to find resources at UNC and how to be an affirming friend. Learn more about Rethink
Build your own skills
Retrain Your Brain
A self-paced online workshop from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) with four modules: emotional awareness, distress tolerance, rethinking unhelpful thoughts and behavior change. Each video comes with handouts and worksheets. Start Retrain Your Brain
Speak Up Carolina
An online toolkit with practice scenarios for having constructive conversations, even about difficult issues. Visit Speak Up Carolina
Bring a training to your group
Departments, programs and student groups can request Mental Health First Aid (for groups of 15 or more), in-person QPR or VPAS trainings. The Preventative Measures Menu compares formats and lengths to help you choose. You can also browse all trainings in the Resource Hub.