Izzy, I don't think we're thinking the same thing. Mental Health First Aid isn't really about the will to survive or mental toughness, if I'm thinking the same thing as dweste.

MHFA is like learning how to identify and assess mental health issues that could become crises, like suicide, depression, substance abuse, etc. You learn how to listen to them and talk to them and learn appropriate resources they could turn to or even ways for you to help them, if things aren't too dire. Just like basic first aid, you're not the doctor, but you help the person survive until more definitive help can be brought to bear.

I think it's a valuable skillset for anyone. There is a lot of mental health issues out there, especially in the prison systems, but budget cuts are releasing many of them into the general population. Many returning vets face mental health challenges, including suicide. The economy and unemployment situation that has dragged on for years is pushing many to the breaking point.

Just last week, we had one of the worst mass shootings in Orange County history when a guy angry about child custody walks into the hair salon where his ex-wife works and shoots nine, killing eight. Some would argue that "Well, all those people should've been armed" but how much more desirable and efficient would it have been if someone could've identified the stress he was under and diffused that anger long before he decided to grab a gun and go on a murder spree.

Although I know people who have gone through programs like grief counseling or working on a suicide hotline, I don't know anyone who has taken something really called Mental Health First Aid, so I'm not sure what the curriculum is like.

I think law enforcement should have more training like this. People with mental issues don't talk or react the way you expect, and that often gets them shot, unfortunately. Like I said, there's a lot of mental health challenges out there nowadays.