Sign up for mental health training at Augusta University

Augusta University continues to offer mental health and suicide awareness trainings, including Kognito, QPR and Mental Health First Aid.

Kognito

Kognito is an online program that helps people learn, practice and self-assess their ability to manage health-related discussions via simulated conversations. Students, faculty and staff at Augusta University can take the Kognito training module to learn how to identify if they or others need mental health support.

This course is ideal for those who want to recognize the signs of potential self-harm, identify when someone is at risk and connect those in need with resources.

This course is best for those who enjoy virtual learning (which includes virtual role-play). Kognito training is self-paced and takes 40 minutes to complete.

Kognito is offered exclusively online, and there are two different trainings: one for faculty and staff and one for students. The faculty and staff training teaches employees how to recognize when a student is exhibiting signs of psychological stress, and how to connect that student with appropriate campus support. The student training helps students recognize and respond to mental health crisis in themselves and their peers.

To access Kognito, create an account with an Augusta University email. The enrollment key for students is augustastudents. The enrollment key for faculty and staff is augusta.

QPR

QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training was created on the idea that just as people qualified in physical health interventions like CPR save thousands of lives each year, so can people trained in mental health intervention. QPR trainees learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade and refer someone to help.

This course is ideal for those who want to learn communication skills to help individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts. QPR is available for free to all members of the Augusta University community.

QPR training takes 1.5 hours, with the first hour focusing on skill-learning and the last 30 minutes focusing on skill application and role play. Augusta University QPR instructors provide this training during scheduled times.

QPR is offered virtually and in person, and trainees can register individually or as a group.

To learn more, email Dr. Lacy Till, psychologist and suicide prevention coordinator at Student Counseling and Psychological Services.

Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) educates participants on how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders, and how to connect those struggling to appropriate care.

MHFA is ideal for those who want to learn common signs and symptoms of mental illness and substance abuse; how to interact with a person in crisis and connect them with help; and general information on trauma, addiction and self-care.

The program is six hours of hybrid (both virtual and in-person) education. Once certified, newly trained individuals retain their certification for three years, with the option to renew online when the certification expires.

MHFA is a blended course where participants complete a two-hour, self-paced online class, then participate in a four-hour, in-person, instructor-led class.

To learn more, email Denise Kornegay, associate dean and executive director for Area Health Education Centers and an associate professor of family medicine at the Medical College of Georgia.