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Maria Stengel

Mental Health First Aid Instructor and National Trainer
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Vail, Arizona

Maria Stengel has been a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor since 2014. With over 20 years of experience as a law enforcement officer, Maria brings a diverse range of knowledge, training, and experience to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and Mental Health First Aid USA.

Beginning in 2013, Maria was a member of an innovative team within the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, the Mental Health Support Team (MHST). MHST ensures that individuals with mental health challenges receive the appropriate treatment and support through a collaborative effort with behavioral health professionals, law enforcement, medical practitioners, judicial entities, and the public. Maria recognized the value of Mental Health First Aid training within her agency and was instrumental in bringing Mental Health First Aid as a required training for all commissioned, corrections, 911, and support staff to the Pima County Sheriff's Department in 2015.

During her tenure with the Sheriff’s Department, Maria was a member of the SWAT Crisis Negotiations Team for 18 years and the Peer Support Team for 4 years. Maria has been a part of the regional Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trainings and an instructor for the regional law enforcement training academy.

After retiring from the Sheriff’s Department in October 2017, Maria accepted a position with Arizona Complete Health as a First Responder Liaison. In this role, Maria continued to utilize her knowledge and experience in the behavioral health system to collaboratively outreach, educate, and coordinate crisis services for first responder agencies throughout southern Arizona. Maria's passion for Mental Health FIrst Aid training continued to grow resulting in the expansion of trainers and First Aiders throughout Southern Arizona. The culmination of this work resulted in Maria being recognized by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing as a Top Instructor in 2018.

Since 2018, Maria has been a National Trainer and is so thankful to be part of someone's journey from a First Aider to a Mental Health First Aid Instructor.

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