E29 Demystifying Mental Health First Aid: What It Is and What It Isn’t

The Compassionate Newsroom

Summary

In this second episode of our three-part series, Dr. Kortni Alston Lemon—former news director turned happiness scholar and certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor—breaks down the heart of MHFA and why it belongs in every newsroom.

You’ll learn what MHFA is (and what it isn’t), how the ALGEE action plan works, and hear powerful examples of real newsroom situations where the training can save lives and protect mental well-being. Dr. Lemon also shares insights from groundbreaking case studies and voices of journalists directly impacted by systemic injustice and trauma.

If you’ve ever wondered how to show up for your colleagues—or yourself—this episode is for you.

🔑 What You'll Learn:

• What MHFA is, and why it’s not therapy or a diagnosis

• A breakdown of the 5-step ALGEE action plan

• The power of listening nonjudgmentally in journalism

• Why journalists from marginalized communities face compounded trauma

• Why MHFA is urgent in today's political and social climate

📰 Case Studies and Conversations:

• CBS4 Denver: Black journalists share their experiences covering racism while enduring it personally
  👉 Read the full article

• AAJA (Asian American Journalists Association): Mental health challenges, cultural stigma, and the push for structural change
  👉 Read the article

• Providence St. Joseph Health: How 45 MHFA Instructors changed workplace culture

• Missouri Department of Mental Health: Over 37,000 trained, statewide impact, and what true community engagement looks like

💡 Key Quote:

“Mental Health First Aid isn’t just a training—it’s a turning point. And our newsrooms can be next.” – Dr. Kortni Alston Lemon

📬 Get Involved:

Learn more about MHFA certification and the upcoming pilot program for journalists through the KALM Institute for Workplace Wellbeing:
👉 https://www.kalminstitute.org/

🎧 If this episode resonates with you, share it with your team. Because when we know how to help, we lead with empathy—and that changes everything.