Mental health first aid is now a trending topic. At a time when public awareness and conversations around mental health are at an all-time high, it is essential to ensure that everyone has the tools they need to support a friend or family member experiencing a mental illness, emotional distress or substance use challenge.
In 2016 alone, approximately 123 million people visited a health facility for mental health problems, and 11% of the global disease burden was attributed to alcohol and drug use disorders. The statistics are even more worrying in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where almost 3 million deaths in people aged 15-44 years were attributable to mental health disorders in 2015. More than 2 million were suicides, indicating a public health crisis. All countries need to develop or strengthen national capacity on prevention, treatment and services for people experiencing mental health challenges.
A large-scale survey by the Health Service Executive shows one in ten people in Ireland is living with a mental health problem. Research also shows almost 20% of suicides in the UK are due to undiagnosed or untreated mental health problems.
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What is Mental Health First Aid?
Mental health issues are common and often have nothing to do with how intelligent, strong, or successful you may be. They can affect anyone at any time. Yet, many people don’t know how to help someone in distress or what to do if they need support.
Mental illnesses can affect people of all ages. They don’t always relate to intelligence levels or other aspects that make up a person’s character – like their work ethic, for example.
Mental health issues can be complicated to understand and hard to talk about. Many misconceptions around mental health make it difficult for people to know how best to support someone experiencing a mental illness or emotional distress.
Mental health first aid (MHFA) is a set of skills that can be used to help someone who might experience mental distress before it becomes too severe. They might be developing or experiencing mental illness before it turns into something much worse.
Mental health first aid is an evidence-based approach to assess and support a person developing a mental illness or distress.
Mental Health First Aid involves learning how to apply practical early interventions when in-person support or treatment services are not readily available. Therefore, you may need the knowledge and basic tools on hand, even if they’re just some simple actions like engaging with somebody for ten minutes about what’s going on, providing reassurance through touch or being there without judgment – whatever feels appropriate at the time.
Mental Health First Aid is emergency response for people with a higher risk of depression, anxiety disorder, substance abuse and mental health crises
Mental health first aid is a program that provides safe, timely and appropriate services to reduce the immediate effects of a mental health disorder.
Mental Health First Aid is used for people with depression or anxiety disorder or a mental health issue who need help as soon as possible
Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to recognize, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and addiction. Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to support a person in crisis and connect them to professional help and how to assist someone who you believe has mental health concerns, substance use issues, or may be at risk of self-harm.
Why Mental Health First Aid?
First aid is intended to stabilize and prevent the worsening of an accident or injury. Similarly, in mental health first aid, a basic understanding of mental health will teach you how to identify signs of mental illnesses and respond to them appropriately.
What is the role of a mental health first aider?
A mental health first aider provides initial help to someone experiencing a mental health problem or in a mental health or substance use-related crisis. They can also help those with substance abuse issues and those at risk of suicide.
Mental health first aiders are trained to help people with mental illness. They can be found in schools, hospitals, and other places where there is an increased risk of or a previous history of mental health conditions. Mental health first aid training teaches participants how to identify the signs and symptoms of common mental illnesses like anxiety disorders, major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and, borderline personality disorder, among others.
Mental Health First Aiders are caring citizens who have been trained to provide help and support in a crisis. The key questions answered are that a mental health first aider can intervene at any time, without needing permission from family or friends.
Mental health first aiders are the new generation of mental health professionals. They provide emotional support, information and advice to people in need – all from the comfort of their own homes.
What is mental health first aid training?
Mental health first aid training (MHFA training) is a program that teaches people how to help someone who may be experiencing mental distress. This training is delivered by certified instructors. The goal of the training is to empower participants with the knowledge and skills they need to confidently identify, understand, refer or provide initial support for an adult and youth in crisis
Participants will learn about common mental illnesses like depression and other mood disorders, anxiety disorders, disruptive behavior disorders and psychosis, and their role in an individual’s life. They will also learn about unique risk factors and warning signs related to suicide; signs of addictions; how to listen without judgment; ways of providing emotional support; strategies for de-escalating crises; identifying a mental health first aid partner, developing action planning steps; providing early intervention; where to get more information on mental health resources in their community, including engagement with the faith community and veteran services.
Skills learned are not simply for use during an emotional crisis but can be used at any time and in non crisis situations when interacting with someone who has a mental health concern and might need extra care or attention. These skills can also be used to improve the mental hygiene of those with a mental health challenge.
A good example of an MHFA course is Mental Health First Aid USA, a national initiative to teach mental health literacy to the public. Mental Health First Aid is designed to help individuals identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness to help keep individuals with mental illnesses safe and healthy by encouraging those in need to seek professional help and by educating the public about mental illness to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.
Duration and Certification of MHFA Training
Mental Health First Aid training program is an eight-hour course. Students who complete the MHFA certification are empowered to assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis or developing a mental health problem. There is a national certification program in the United States, for example. Your instructor will providew you with the certification requirements during training.
What are the benefits of MHFA Training?
- Provides a course on mental health awareness
- Includes classroom training and self-study materials
- It is an evidence-based, online curriculum in first aid for mental disorders
- Empowers students with the skills to identify and respond when someone needs help
- Support people to help them when they need it
- Save lives
- Contribute to mental health
- Educate communities about mental health
How do I become a mental health aider?
To be a mental health aider, you must be certified. An instructor from the local mental health services, or a health & human sciences educator, train mental health first aiders. Also, there are many virtual courses available. Trainees can get re-certified every five years. They are encouraged to speak with friends, family or colleagues about their training to find out more information regarding the procedures and what their role will be if there is a mental health crisis.
Most mental health first aiders work under the supervision of professionals like doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, counselors or other mental health care professionals. If someone feels ill and may need to seek professional help, their mental health first aider can help them find professionals in their area that can help them. The professional sought might be a social worker or a psychiatrist. Still, whatever the case may be, the mental health aider will help find someone else if those professionals are not available.
If there was a mental health first aid kit, what would be in it?
To help someone in a mental health crisis, it is vital to be prepared. A mental health first aid kit can help you to be well-prepared. This kit may include these basic tools:
- A list of strategies to help you stay calm and focused. You can use these strategies to help you stay calm as you are talking with the other person.
- A list of strategies to help the person in crisis reduce troubling thoughts. This could include using imagery or writing down their worries to help accept them.
- A list of people to contact in an emergency. These might be friends, family members, or other people you can call if you are worried about a friend or family member.
The mental health first aid kit might also include the following items:
- Pencil and paper for recording symptoms
- Sources of support from others
- Vouchers for local services
- emergency contact numbers
- A sleeping bag, warm blanket or clothing
- Spare medication
What are the key messages of mental health first aid?
The key messages of mental health first aid are: assess, listen, observe, advise, encourage, and accompany.
- Assess the person’s condition and the situation.
- Listen non-judgementally and with empathy to understand their experiences and perspectives.
- Observe behavior and physical symptoms to get an idea of the person’s mental state.
- Provide advice and encourage the person to seek further intervention such as psychotherapy or medication, if appropriate.
- Encourage them to take action to keep themselves safe, such as removing them from danger or increasing social support.
- Accompany the person to get help from a professional or peer supporter until they feel better.
You should include these key messages in your safe action planning.
In the case of someone with a risk of suicide, some critical messages of mental health first aid are:
- Assess the situation (for risks) – asking questions such as ‘How are you feeling?’ and ‘What is going on in your mind?’ or ‘What is getting in your way from feeling OK?’
- Listen (don’t judge) – let them know they are being heard and understood. Engage in a helpful conversation with respect.
- Observe (be aware of) – factors that may influence their judgment
- Provide advice that makes life worth living
- Encourage the person to accept the help being offered and the benefits of doing so
- Once safe, take them to a safe place or a refuge for people with suicidal behaviour
Urgent action is needed to reduce the number of people dying by suicide. The World Health Organization has estimated that suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people aged 15-29 years. Suicide is a complex phenomenon; many factors contribute to it. The first step in addressing suicide is to recognize it. Undertaking MHFA training will provide you with the skills to help those that are feeling suicidal.
What can you do?
Take a course on the basics of mental health first aid so you can learn how to help someone going through a crisis point before they reach out for professional care.
You can join free online training courses on mental health first aid, which will empower you with knowledge about mental illnesses, their symptoms, signs of crises as well as strategies that all members of society can use, including family members, friends and colleagues; students; police officers and other law enforcement officers; healthcare professionals like doctors, social workers, nurses, teachers and other school staff, those in the military service, etc.
Learn when and where you should seek immediate help from professionals and what resources exist in your community if there is an ongoing need for treatment or recovery services.