Many of us have taken a First Aid and/or CPR course so we can provide some basic help in the event of a medical emergency. But what if someone is experiencing a mental health crisis? Do we know how to best respond and help someone experiencing a panic attack or someone talking about suicide? According to Mental Health America’s 2017 report, one in five adults experience a diagnosable mental health disorder in any given year. That’s over 42.5 million Americans, making it arguably more likely you will come in contact with someone in an emotional crisis, or with a mental illness than with a medical emergency.
A nationally evidence-based curriculum, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), was designed to meet the need. MHFA is an, interactive, 8-hour course that presents an overview of mental illness and substance use disorders. It introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact, and explores common treatments. MHFA introduces people to a 5-step action plan encompassing the skills and knowledge to help an individual in crisis and connect with appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help resources.
Participants Learn To:
* Identify the warning signs and risk factors for a range of mental health problems including: depression, self-harm, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders and substance use disorders.
* Use a 5-step action plan to recognize symptoms, to offer and provide initial help, and to guide a person to appropriate treatments and other supportive help.
* Dispel myths about mental illness and understand the prevalence of mental illness.
Mental Health First Aiders:
* Earn a renewable certification much like First Aid or CPR
* Identify potential warning signs to help someone in crisis or with an emerging mental health problem
* Incorporate a 5-step action plan to help an individual in crisis connect to appropriate care and support
* Link individuals with mental health issues to services
Our next Mental Health First Aid trainings are:
- Thursday, March 29, 2018 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm at Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center
- Saturday, September 15, 2018 from 8:00 – 5:00 pm at Johnson County Central Resource Library
The course is $50/person (scholarships available upon request), which includes the manual and 8 contact hours.
If you are interested in attending a Mental Health First Aid training or hosting a training, please email JCMHCevents@jocogov.org or Kristen Reese at 913-715-7880 or Kristen.Reese@jocogov.org.