Overview
This 12-hour course teaches people how to give first aid to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis situation and/or who are in the early stages of a mental health disorder. Participants will learn the signs and symptoms of the most common mental health problems, where and when to get help, and what type of help has been shown to be effective. Mental health problems covered are depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and self-injury.
Crisis situations covered include suicidal behaviors, acute stress reaction after a trauma, panic attack, acute psychotic behavior, and drug overdose.
Participants learn to use the Mental Health First Aid Action Plan:
- Assess risk of suicide or harm
- Listen non-judgementally
- Give reassurance and information
- Encourage the person to get appropriate professional help
- Encourage self-help and other support strategies from peers, family, and friends.
This course is designed to increase mental health literacy, to decrease stigmatizing attitudes in our communities and to increase appropriate and early help-seeking by people with mental health problems. Certified MHFA/USA Instructors deliver the 12-hour course, which can be scheduled flexibly. To become MHFA/USA Instructors, individuals successfully complete an intensive five-day course.