MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID:

Transcription

1 MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID: EXPANDING WORKFORCE CAPACITY IN RURAL AREAS RURAL SYMPOSIUM 2010 Mimi McFaul, PsyD Associate Director WICHE Mental Health Program

2 WICHE Mental Health Program Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education Mental Health Program est MAIN FOCUS: Rural Mental Health

3 The WICHE Region

4 Expanding the BH Workforce Safety Net Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) as one potential solution Developed in Australia by mental health literacy experts 12-hour training course designed to give members of the public key skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis

5 Mental Health First Aid Goals of the Training Increase mental health literacy Prevention: Early identification of mental health problems Triage potential mental health crisis situations Refer individuals id to appropriate care Reduce stigma

6 Evidence-based (studies in Australia) Studies indicate: 1. Increased confidence managing a crisis situation 2. Increased ability to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness 3. Increased likelihood of advising people to seek professional help 4. Decreased stigmatizing attitudes 5. Improved awareness of own mental health

7 5 Content Modules What is Depression? What are Anxiety Disorders? What are Psychotic Disorders? What are Substance Use Disorders? What are Eating Disorders?

8 Each module reviews the following Symptoms, causes, treatments, and resources Crisis first aid for Suicidal behavior Acute Stress Disorder Panic Attacks Acute Psychosis Overdose

9 The Training Model National Council - Master trainers 5 day training to become certified instructor About 400 trained instructors t nationally WICHE Mental Health has 6 certified instructors Instructors conduct 12 hr trainings MHFA certificate

10 Mental Health First Aid Participants learn a 5-step action plan to apply in any situation: Assess risk of suicide or harm Listen non-judgmentally Give reassurance and information Encourage appropriate professional help Encourage self-help and other supports

11 A little more about the training Very interactive training Didactic, group exercises using different media powerpoint, video, drawing, hand written exercises Content is standardized but can be taught in a variety of timeframes New modules being developed for different target populations Sample exercise

12 Potential Training Participants MHFA instructors train groups of Target audience needs to be community driven School Teachers & Nurses Police Officers Clergy First Responders Natural Helpers

13 Utility in the Rural Communities Filling a gap in workforce capacity Expanding the number of people who can identify a mental health issue Enhancing their ability to provide appropriate crisis care

14 What we are doing with MHFA Assistance with roll-outs outs in member states Colorado Is this working? Who else needs to be trained? Local/Regional Trainings Instructors t for hire

15 What we are doing with MHFA Testing the effectiveness of MHFA in college settings

16 Study Goals Evaluate the impact of MHFA on the helping behaviors or peer supports. Evaluate the impact of MHFA on the larger student populations.

17 Study Design: Innovations First multi-campus campus, randomized study of a college mental health intervention. First large-scale, peer-based intervention study for college students First large-scale gatekeeper study to estimate effects on the community as a whole Will serve as a model for a standardized approach to student mental health data collection

18 Remember Only one solution to a complex problem Pockets of innovation in other rural areas that t work to increase behavioral health workforce

19 Questions for you Have you heard of MHFA and its application in your state? What communities or individuals would benefit most from this type of training in your state?

20 Thanks for listening Mimi McFaul Associate Director WICHE Mental Health Program