April is designated as National Stress Awareness Month, and the CFI is pleased to host the inaugural Faculty Well-being Weeks. From April 6 to 17, this exciting collaborative effort provides all faculty with opportunities to focus on various components of well-being.
Partners: JMU Libraries, The Counseling Center, President’s Council on Health and Well-being, Balanced Dukes, CommonHealth, and Talent Development
Friday - April 17, 2026
Students’ experiences with mental health challenges and crises can often show up in the classroom or advising meetings. Faculty and advisors understandably may not know how to respond and could benefit from additional resources to support their response. As part of the Center for Faculty Innovation’s (CFI) Wellness and Well-being Area, we want to help equip faculty with the knowledge and skills to address students’ mental health challenges or crises.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training allows any adult to respond to others experiencing mental health challenges or crises, just as CPR provides skills to intervene with a cardiac episode. Two MHFA trainers (faculty and staff at JMU) are offering MHFA training to interested faculty. The training will consist of a 2-hour asynchronous module, covering topics related to mental health (examples include trauma, depression and anxiety, and substance use) and a full one-day in-person training. Participants will leave the training with MHFA certification. We also incorporate new modules and scenarios related specifically to work in higher education. Access the MHFA website for testimonials about the utility of MHFA at UNC-Chapel Hill. Space may be limited.
Program Outcomes
- Building knowledge around topics related to mental health challenges and crises, including trauma, depression and anxiety, substance use, and psychosis
- Developing skills through a five-step conceptual framework to provide assessment for risk of harm, listening nonjudgmentally, and giving reassurance and appropriate referral information
- Recognizing the impact of stigma and discrimination in relation to Mental Health
- Implementing a curious and person-centered approach to inquire about a person’s mental well-being
Facilitators
- Joe LeBlanc, CHBS & CAL
- Karla Kale, Counseling Center
Genre: Workshop
Location: Rose Library 5211
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Register by:
Tuesday, April 14, at 11:59 p.m.
Registration Information
Please refer to the Faculty Well-being Weeks website for the full weeks' details and schedule.
Programs within the CFI are designed to support the development of instructional faculty and AP faculty with instructional responsibilities. We also welcome staff to many of our programs. If you are interested in attending one of our programs but do not identify with the above classifications, please email cfi@jmu.edu.
For more information on registering for our programs, please visit the CFI Programs & Events web page, which includes details on registering for programs and an instructional video on how to use the registration portal.
If this is your first time visiting the CFI Program registration page this semester, be sure to clear your browser cache/cookies and update your profile information (including updating your college/division and department) during the registration process. You will be asked to sign in to the secure site using your JMU eID and password (through Okta).
If you find that you are unable to attend a scheduled event prior to the registration deadline, please return to your CFI Program Account and cancel your registration. If it is after the event registration deadline, email cfi@jmu.edu as early as possible.
CFI programs will be canceled automatically if JMU is closed for inclement weather.
We want this program to be welcoming, accessible, and inclusive for all of our participants. Please describe any considerations or accommodations (e.g., dietary, disability, wellness, cultural, etc.) you want us to know about in your account profile. You may also reach out to us at cfi@jmu.edu or (540) 568-4846.