Every day we hear more and more about the importance of using different types of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and demonstrating behaviors that help protect us from COVID-19.  During these unprecedented and most uncertain times that we are living in, we are told to cover our mouths and noses with face masks or shields, wash our hands often, use hand sanitizer, and comply with social distancing protocols to keep 6 feet apart to maintain our health as well as to protect the health of others. However, there is another tool with which we need to equip ourselves: Mental Health First Aid® (MHFA) 2.0 virtual training.  Virtual MHFA is a national certification course that provides the basic knowledge and practical skills that help to either alleviate or shield us from signs and symptoms of behavioral health or substance use challenges. Its primary goal is to help individuals increase their competence and confidence in identifying, recognizing, and responding appropriately to someone in distress.  First Aiders learn to support an individual until appropriate professional help arrives or until the crisis is resolved. In this pandemic, many of us are struggling with the thought of social distancing from family, friends, and loved ones.  Whereas social distancing is necessary to decrease the rate of transmission of the coronavirus, Mental Health First Aid® seeks to decrease [...]