Mental Skills - First Aid

Original May 2020 - May 2025

Mental Skills First Aid (MSFA): The Training You Didn’t Know You Needed

What if you could learn to recognize a mental performance challenge before it spirals? What if you had a go-to protocol, like CPR, but for pressure moments and performance slumps?

That’s exactly why the Mental Skills First Aid (MSFA) program exists.

What is Mental Skills - First Aid?

Think of it as the bridge between awareness and action, a training designed to expand access to Performance Psychology tools in real-time, high-pressure environments.

Much like traditional First Aid® prepares you for physical emergencies, Mental Skills First Aid equips you to identify and respond to mental performance challenges, quickly, effectively, and with confidence.

It’s not therapy. It’s not diagnosis. It’s what to do first.

Who Is It For?

Coaches

Parents

Teachers

Support Professionals

And really, anyone in a role where people look to you for guidance — especially when the stakes are high and the pressure is real.

The MSFA Training Modules

Delivered across five powerful modules, the program provides a clear framework for building your psychological toolkit:

1. Performance Psychology & InterventionsUnderstand the principles that drive high performance, and how they show up in different domains.

2. Context & ConsiderationsLearn how to recognize when something’s off, and what to consider before you respond.

3. First Aid in Pressure MomentsPractical strategies to apply when performance dips or emotions spike.

4. Band-Aids for Common ChallengesQuick interventions for overthinking, avoidance, frustration, and more.

5. Building a Support TeamWho helps the helper? How do you refer, resource, and reinforce mental sustainability?

6. 
   

MSFA = Mental Sustainability in Action

Whether you’re looking out for yourself or someone you care about, these six core areas act like a pulse check on performance + wellness:

• Mood — Emotional baseline and reactivity

• Responsibilities — Ability to follow through on commitments

• Eating — Patterns, consistency, and nourishment

• Rest — Quality and quantity of sleep

• Physical Activity — Daily movement and energy

• Balance — Engagement in joy beyond obligations

  
  

These aren’t just wellness buzzwords. They’re indicators — and often the first signs something needs attention.

Want In?

You can register for MSFA as an individual or bring it to your team as a group offering. It’s a foundational training that turns awareness into action — and equips you with tools that actually hold up when it counts.

🔗 Learn More about the MSFA

Want to start by deepening your understanding of Mental Sustainability?

Join the next Mental Sustainability Webinar open to all curious minds.