National Alliance on Mental Illness Western Mountains will be holding Mental Health First Aid courses in Wilton, Fryeburg and Bethel.

Mental Health First Aid is a national best-practice, evidenced-based certification course. The eight-hour course leads to a three-year certification issued by the National Council on Behavioral Health. Along with standard first aid training, it teaches participants how to help someone experiencing a mental health problem or crisis to help keep the situation from escalating until professional help arrives.

Students will learn to identify, understand and respond to signs of addiction and mental health problems.

The courses are free to participants with a $5 lunch fee.

A Youth Mental Health First Aid course will be offered in Wilton on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the First Congregational Church on Main Street. This course is for anyone who lives, works or interacts with adolescents ages 12 to 18 on a regular basis.

An Adult Mental Health First Aid course will be offered in Fryeburg on Friday, Dec. 2, at the Legion Hall on Bradley Street. This course is for those 16 or older who live, work or interact with persons age 18 or older and wants to learn how to help a person experiencing a mental health challenge.

A Youth Mental Health First Aid course will be offered in Bethel on Friday, Dec. 19, at the West Parish Congregational Church on Church Street. This course is the same as the one in Wilton on Nov. 30.

FMI, register: www.namimaine.org/events, 1-800-464-5767, ext. 2320.