MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

Transcription

1 MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID is the help offered to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate treatment and support are received or until the crisis resolves. WHY MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID? One in five Americans has a mental illness and many are reluctant to seek help or might not know where to turn for care. The symptoms of mental illness can be difficult to detect even when friends and family of someone who appears to be developing a mental illness can tell that something is amiss, they may not know how to intervene or direct the person to proper treatment which means that all too often, those in need of mental health services do not get them until it is too late. Studies have found that people trained in Mental Health First Aid reduce negative perceptions and attitudes about people with mental illnesses and addictions. Mental Health First Aiders have more confidence in helping others and a greater likelihood of advising people to seek professional help. WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING? Mental Health First Aid is an in-person training designed for anyone to learn about mental illnesses and addictions, including risk factors and warning signs. Similar to CPR, participants learn a 5-step action plan to help people who are developing a mental health problem or in crisis. It is a low-cost, (no charge in Philadelphia) high-impact program that emphasizes the concept of neighbors helping neighbors. Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course that introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health concerns, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common treatments. The course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect persons to professional, peer and social supports as well as self-help resources. Mental Health First Aid allows for early detection and intervention by teaching participants about the signs and symptoms of specific illnesses like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and addictions. The program offers concrete tools and answers key questions like What can I do? and Where can someone find help? Participants are introduced to local mental health resources, national organizations, support groups, and online tools for mental health and addictions treatment and support.

2 MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID IN PHILADELPHIA Philadelphia launched this public health initiative in January 2012, a collaboration between DBHIDS (the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disability Services) and the Mayor s Office. As of January 2016 we have conducted close to 700 MHFA city-wide trainings, trained 250 instructors, and certified close to 13,000 individuals who live, work or study in Philadelphia to respond to a behavioral health crisis or non-crisis situation. DBHIDS has developed several critical partnerships to achieve this aim which include a large number of faith based and grass roots organizations, humanitarian, private and educational organizations. Drexel University School of Public Health and DBHIDS continue in partnership, evaluating the effectiveness and impact of MHFA across the Philadelphia region. To date, results indicate positive outcomes such as: increased awareness and likelihood of assisting others, changes in attitude toward behavioral health challenges, and reduction in stigma. (During FY 2014 the evaluation consisted of quantitative and qualitative data collection through on line surveys, interviews and a focus group. The 2014 MHFA evaluation surveys and interviews demonstrated 1) high rates of mental health knowledge and awareness among First Aiders, 2) high rates of confidence in, and use of skills learned; 3) high rates of using MHFA with many groups of people, including clients/patients, family, friends, congregants and oneself and 4) positively changing attitudes related to stigma and social distance. 5) High rates of referrals to professional, community supports and informational resources also noted as well as 6) many stories of how First Aiders had used MHFA, and much appreciation for the training. MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID: AN EVIDENCE-BASED PRORAM Mental Health First Aid is included on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP). Published, peer reviewed studies about the course show that people who get trained in mental health first aid increase their knowledge of signs, symptoms and risk factors of mental illnesses and addictions; can identify multiple types of professional and self-help resources for individuals with a mental illness or addiction; increase their confidence in and likelihood to help an individual in distress; and even exhibit increased mental wellness themselves. Studies also show that the program reduces the social distance created by negative attitudes and perceptions of individuals with mental illnesses.

3 AN OVERVIEW OF MHFA TRAININGS Adult Mental Health First Aid: General (now available in Spanish) The Adult Mental Health First Aid course is appropriate for anyone 18 years and older who wants to learn how to help a person who may be experiencing a mental health related crisis or problem. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addictions. The adult course is available in both English and Spanish. Course participants come from a variety of backgrounds and play various roles in a community. Instructors may specialize in providing the course to groups such as: Public Safety, Higher Education, Veterans and Military families. Adult MHFA: Law Enforcement, Corrections and Public Safety Module For a number of reasons, individuals experiencing mental illness and substance use disorders often have more contact with the criminal justice system than the general population does. Thus, the better prepared staff and officers are to respond effectively and appropriately, the more likely the interaction will be a positive one. Mental Health First Aid offers a tailored supplement which builds upon the effectiveness of the standard Mental Health First Aid curriculum by focusing on the unique experiences and needs of law enforcement, corrections, and public safety audiences. Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety is an eight-hour course specially designed for police officers, first responders, corrections officers and other public safety professionals, helping them better understand mental illnesses and addictions and providing them with effective response options to deescalate incidents without compromising safety. Adult MHFA: Veterans module

4 Mental Health First Aid for Veterans is an eight-hour course specially designed for veterans, family members of veterans, and personnel working with the military and families who want to learn how to help a veteran who may be experiencing a mental health related crisis or problem. Family members and personnel working with military and families are often not aware of how to engage veterans with mental illnesses and addictions. In addition to the impact of military service on the veteran, each has a circle of family (significant other, children, parents, siblings, etc.) and friends who are also impacted by their military service. Mental Health First Aid is a valuable resource that can make a difference in the lives of the more than 22 million veterans, their families, and the communities they live in. Youth Mental Health First Aid (now available in Spanish) Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. Youth Mental Health First Aid provides an ideal forum to engage communities in discussing the signs and symptoms of mental illness, the prevalence of mental health disorders, the effectiveness of treatment, and how to engage troubled young people in services. Adult MHFA: Higher Education Module Mental illnesses and substance use challenges often present during adolescence and young adulthood, when many individuals are students at colleges and universities. Students can struggle with feelings of depression, hopelessness, anxiety and stress, and most do not seek out treatment. College and university faculty, staff, families and students can learn how to help each other within a framework of their unique culture and set of resources. Mental Health First Aid offers a tailored supplement which builds upon the effectiveness of the standard Mental Health First Aid curriculum by focusing on higher education settings. This supplement is intended to blend with the existing 8-hour course Mental Health First Aid was developed in Australia in Adapted for and managed in the US by National Council for Behavioral Health, Maryland Department of Mental Hygiene, and Missouri Department of Mental Health Mental Health First Aid was introduced in the U.S. in 2008 and, to date, over 310,000 people from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have taken the course.

5 *We are starting to roll out the Older Adult Module here in Philadelphia, and have conducted a few trainings. Here is information that gives a very brief overview: Website for National Council for Behavioral Health: Website for Mental Health First Aid. Org: Website for trainings taking place in Philadelphia that are at no cost to individuals who live, work or study in Philadelphia: